Method and System and Program Storage Device For Storing Oilfield Related Data in a Computer Database and Displaying a Field Data Handbook on a Computer Display Screen

ABSTRACT

A computerized handbook known as an ‘i-Handbook’ is adapted to be stored in a memory of a computer system and displayed on a display screen of the computer system for assisting field personnel in the performance of their respective job related responsibilities. The ‘i-Handbook’, when displayed, has the appearance of a real handbook and it includes a database and a plurality of calculators for calculating a plurality of oilfield or wellbore related data in response to a first plurality of data in the database and a second plurality of data input by a user. The plurality of calculators are adapted for calculating: unit conversions, triplex pump volumes, tank volumes, tubular stretch and free point, annulus volumes, slurry density, gate percentage, screen out, cement slurry, casing lift, HCL density, oil gravity and API, and salt requirements. The ‘i-Handbook’ has a wellbore diagram feature which will allow a user to draw and create differing types of downhole tubular, packers and perforations in the tubular adapted to be disposed in a wellbore. In addition, the ‘i-Handbook’ can display: tubular capacities and displacement volumes, and tubular data based on suppliers which will enable a user to search through a database of the tubular data to locate the suppliers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of aiding a patent searcher; it is provided with the understanding that this abstract shall not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application Claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/404,015, filed on Aug. 16, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present invention relates to the art ofwellbore services, and, more particularly, to a method and system andprogram storage device adapted for displaying a user-friendly‘i-handbook’ which can be displayed on a personal computer adapted forretrieving and/or calculating and displaying a set of field data for theuser that can used for constructing and stimulating subterraneanwellbores utilized for water or hydrocarbon production.

Hand held handbooks containing relevant field data are currently beingused in the water and gas industry. Industry personnel would rather flipthrough the pages of a convenient sized hand-held handbook than browseendlessly through word/pdf files to find an answer to a particulartechnical question. Technical handbooks typically contain a collectionof reference data (such as values of certain constants). The referencedata are often conveniently classified using commercial names. Thecollection of reference data also typically comprises lists ofequations, such as formulae for converting from one set of units toanother set of units. Specific utilities based, for instance, onspreadsheets have been developed to help field engineers in designingand managing operations.

Although the above mentioned hand-held handbooks have long beenrecognized as being extremely useful and convenient tools, they haveseveral limitations. First, a compromise must be found between theamount of information provided by the hand-held handbook and the size ofthe handbook. In the oilfield industry, the compromise could mean thatmost data in the hand-held handbook is provided, in the form of imperialunits and a conversion table is provided for converting from theimperial units to other types units. However, this practice ofconverting from one set of units to another set of units may increasethe number of errors generated during the conversion. Second, it isalmost impossible to provide all users with updated versions of thehand-held handbook and ensure that they all use the correct version ofthe handbook, especially when the users are physically locatedthroughout the world.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a computerized handbook(otherwise known as an ‘i-handbook’) which is adapted to be stored in amemory of a personal computer or other computer system and displayed ona display screen of the personal computer for assisting field personnel,such as design engineers or field engineers or treatment supervisors, inthe performance of their respective job related duties andresponsibilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention involves a method of determiningdata, comprising the steps of (a) displaying a handbook on a computerdisplay screen, the handbook including a left page, a right page, and atleast one binder ring interconnecting the left page to the right page;(b) locating a page in the handbook being displayed on the computerdisplay screen; and (c) determining the data from the page in thehandbook being displayed on the computer display screen, the datadetermined during the determining step (c) being displayed on thecomputer display screen.

A further aspect of the present invention involves a method ofconstructing a wellbore diagram, comprising the steps of: (a) displayinga handbook on a computer display screen; and (b) drawing the wellborediagram on the handbook being displayed on the computer display screen,the wellbore diagram being constructed in response to the drawing step(b).

A further aspect of the present invention involves a program storagedevice readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform method steps fordetermining data, the method steps comprising: (a) displaying a handbookon a display screen of the machine, the handbook including a left page,a right page, and at least one binder ring interconnecting the left pageto the right page; (b) displaying a page in the handbook on the displayscreen of the machine in response to an input instruction; and (c)determining the data from the page in the handbook being displayed onthe display screen of the machine in response to a set of input data anda further set of data stored in a database, the data determined duringthe determining step (c) being displayed on the display screen of themachine.

A further aspect of the present invention involves a program storagedevice readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program ofinstructions executable by the machine to perform method steps forconstructing a wellbore diagram, the method steps comprising: (a)displaying a handbook on a view screen of the machine; and (b) inresponse to one or more input instructions, displaying the wellborediagram on the handbook that is being displayed on the view screen ofthe machine, the wellbore diagram being constructed in response to thedisplaying step (b).

A further aspect of the present invention involves a system adapted fordetermining data, comprising: apparatus adapted for displaying ahandbook on a computer display screen, the handbook including a leftpage, a right page, and at least one binder ring interconnecting theleft page to the right page; apparatus adapted for locating a page inthe handbook being displayed on the computer display screen; andapparatus adapted for determining the data from the page in the handbookbeing displayed on the computer display screen, the data being displayedon the computer display screen.

A further aspect of the present invention involves a system adapted forconstructing a wellbore diagram, comprising: apparatus adapted fordisplaying a handbook on a computer display screen; and apparatusadapted for drawing and constructing the wellbore diagram on thehandbook being displayed on the computer display screen.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description presented hereinafter. It shouldbe understood, however, that the detailed description and the specificexamples, while representing a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome obvious to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the present invention will be obtained from thedetailed description of the preferred embodiment presented hereinbelow,and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustrationonly and are not intended to be limitative of the present invention, andwherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a personal computer, or other computer system, whichstores a software package, hereinafter known as the ‘i-Handbooksoftware’ of the present invention, and a database, and which displaysan ‘i-Handbook’ on a display screen of a display device of the personalcomputer when a processor of the personal computer executes the‘i-Handbook software’ of the present invention stored in a memory;

FIGS. 2 through 19 illustrate a plurality of pages in the ‘i-Handbook’which are displayed on a display screen of the personal computer of FIG.1 when the processor of the personal computer of FIG. 1 executes the‘i-Handbook software’ of the present invention using the data in adatabase stored in the memory of the personal computer, and wherein someof the pages in the ‘i-Handbook’ of FIG. 1 are illustrated in thefollowing figures of drawing, as follows:

FIGS. 2 and 2A illustrate a set of results from a Unit ConversionCalculator,

FIG. 3 illustrates a set of standard conversion factors stored in the‘i-Handbook’,

FIG. 4 illustrates computing volumes for a single acting triplex pump,

FIG. 5 illustrates computing tank volumes and generating tank straps,

FIG. 6 illustrates a display of supplier tubular data and the ability tosearch a database,

FIG. 7 illustrates calculation of tubular stretch and free point,

FIG. 8 illustrates tubular capacities and displacement volumes,

FIG. 9 illustrates annulus volume calculations,

FIG. 10 illustrates slurry density calculations,

FIG. 11 illustrates generating gate % charts for a given pump schedule,

FIG. 12 illustrates screen out calculations,

FIG. 13 cement slurry calculations showing the property of blendedcement,

FIG. 14 illustrates how a bulk plant loading guide is generated based onuser inputs,

FIG. 15 illustrates casing lift calculations,

FIG. 16, illustrates calculations showing density and dilution forHydrochloric acid,

FIG. 17 illustrates computing API gravity from Specific gravity of oiland vice versa,

FIG. 18 illustrates a salt interpolating table,

FIG. 19 illustrates the wellbore diagram feature;

FIG. 20 illustrates a block diagram of the ‘i-Handbook’ software shownin FIG. 1;

FIGS. 21 and 22 assist in illustrating a construction of the‘i-Handbook’ software;

FIG. 23 illustrates the ‘i-Handbook’ application on Windows Desktop;

FIG. 24 illustrates extended functionality over a physical field datahandbook;

FIG. 25 illustrates the primary areas of the 1-Handbook %

FIG. 26 illustrates the layers in the ‘i-Handbook’;

FIG. 27 illustrates a functional flow diagram of the ‘i-Handbook’software; and

FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate diagrams used in calculations in the DetailedDescription.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a personal computer 10 is illustrated. The personalcomputer 10 can be a desk top computer or a laptop computer or apalm-pilot computer. The personal computer 10 includes a processor 12connected to a system bus, a recorder or display device 14 connected tothe system bus for displaying or recording images, and a memory 16connected to the system bus. A CD-Rom 18 stores a software known as the‘i-Handbook software’. When the CD-Rom 18 is inserted into the personalcomputer 10, the ‘i-Handbook software’ is loaded from the CD-Rom 18 intothe memory 16 of the personal computer 10. At this point, the memory 16stores the ‘i-Handbook’ software 20, the ‘i-Handbook software’ 20including a human interface 22 a, calculators 22 b, and a database 22 cwhich stores a multitude of data used for performing calculations by thecalculators 22 b, to be discussed later in this specification withreference to FIG. 20. In addition, input data 24 supplied by a user isalso provided to the personal computer 10, the system bus receiving thatinput data 24. In operation, when the processor 12 of the personalcomputer 10 executes the ‘i-Handbook software’ 20 utilizing the data inthe database 22 c and the input data 24 supplied by the user, therecorder or display device 13 of the personal computer 10 will generatean output hereinafter known as the ‘i-Handbook’ 26. The ‘i-Handbook’ 26will be discussed in greater detail later in this specification. Thepersonal computer 10 may be a desk top computer, a laptop computer, apalm pilot computer, a workstation, or a mainframe. Examples of possibleworkstations include a Silicon Graphics Indigo 2 workstation or a SunSPARC workstation or a Sun ULTRA workstation or a Sun BLADE workstation.The memory 16 is a computer readable medium or a program storage devicewhich is readable by a machine, such as the processor 12. The processor12 may be, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller, or amainframe or workstation processor. The memory 16, which stores the‘i-Handbook software’ 20 of the present invention, may be, for example,a hard disk, ROM, CD-ROM, DRAM, or other RAM, flash memory, magneticstorage, optical storage, registers, or other volatile and/ornon-volatile memory.

In FIG. 1, the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 in accordance with the present inventioncan be stored in a personal computer and it can be launched anddisplayed on a display screen of the recorder or display device 14 ofthe personal computer 10 by using a mouse to click an icon that islocated at the bottom of the display screen. The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 willenable the user to refer to relevant data (such as, wellbore data) atany location or time. The personal computer 10 can be a personaldesk-top computer, or a laptop computer, or a palm pilot-type computer,or any other type of computer or data processing system. The‘i-Handbook’ 26 according to the present invention includes “tabs” or“eye-catchers” to demarcate various sections of the handbook and a“contents” page to display the contents of each section of the handbook.When certain ‘desired data’ can be calculated mathematically using‘other data’ and ‘equations or formulas or algorithms’ already stored inthe computer system memory, instead of storing the ‘desired data’ in thememory, the ‘desired data’ is calculated. As a result, the size of thedatabase 22 c stored in the computer system memory 16 will be maintainedat a minimum. Options are preferably provided when the user wishes toview one data set or the entire series. Apart from its user-friendlyinterfaces, additional features of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 (which aredesigned to aid in the easy use of the handbook) may include: providinghelp files for all major topics, displaying results in detail orselectively, printing any useful information, and quickly accessing anydesired information. The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 preferably storescapacity/volume data for various tubular goods which generally comprisea portion of the construction of a wellbore. For example, wellbore datarelated to tubing or casing or drill pipe generally include ‘tubulardiameter’ and ‘weight’ and ‘capacity per unit length’. The ‘i-Handbook’26 also stores volumetric data associated with various annulus areaslocated between an outer wall of a cased or open hole and a tubing thatis located inside the annulus areas. Other important types of data thatare stored in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 include information regarding thephysical properties of cement slurries, fracturing related proppant(usually Ottawa sand), tables to calculate sand fill in casings, andsometimes Nitrogen and CO₂ volume factors to calculate their volumes forspecified temperature and pressure. The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 shouldpreferably store and include the following sections, the contents ofwhich are explained in the next section of this specification:

Tubular—OD, ID, Drift Diameter, burst, collapse, tensile yields,

Coil Tubing Data—sizes, grades, types and properties,

Tubular thread identifier+thread interchangeability guide,

Cement slurry Yield and Additive Calculations; update tables,

Units Conversion Compatibility,

Sand Fill Charts for all types of sands,

Brine Calculator, Density Calculator,

CO2 and N2 hydrostatic calculator along with PVT properties tables,

Inclusion of perforation friction and number of holes open, and

The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 19, a detailed description of the contentsof the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated.

The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 is an electronic form of a ‘hand-held version of aField Data. Handbook’ that is often used by field personnel in the oil &gas industry to assist in routine jobs. However, the electronic form ofthe ‘i-Handbook’ 26 not only displays a ‘set of desired data’ but italso helps in computing and calculating a ‘further set of desiredresults’ with the help of the ‘set of desired data’. This eliminates thetime-consuming and error-prone procedure of using the ‘hand-held versionof the Field Data Handbook’ to first assimilate the data and then usinga separate calculator to obtain the set of results.

In FIGS. 2-19, the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 includes at least six (6) tabs, afirst tab 26 a labeled ‘General Info’, a second tab 26 b labeled ‘coiledtubing and pipe data’, a third tab 26 c labeled ‘volume’ a fourth tab 26d labeled ‘fracturing’, a fifth tab 26 e labeled ‘cementing’, and asixth tab 26 f labeled ‘Acid Oil Brine’. The contents associated witheach tabbed section of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 will be discussed in detailbelow.

In FIGS. 2, 2A, and 3, a first page (‘conversion factors’ and ‘UnitConversion Calculator’) associated with a first tab 26 a (labeled‘General Info’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. InFIGS. 2 and 2A and 3, the results using the Unit Conversion Calculatorwill be discussed.

In FIG. 3, a group of pages associated with the first tab 26 a includesa ‘table showing a plurality of conversion factors’. A small example ofthe ‘table showing a plurality of conversion factors’ in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 is shown in FIG. 3, although the table in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 is actually several pages in length. For example, inFIG. 3, the conversion factors for converting ‘meter’ to either ‘feet’or ‘inches’ or ‘yards’ is illustrated. As an example, the conversionfactor for converting ‘meters’ into ‘feet’ is ‘1 m=3.281 feet’.Therefore, for 27 meters, the number of feet is determined as noted inFIG. 3 and duplicated as follows: 27×3.281 ft/m=88.5827 ft. The ‘tableshowing a plurality of conversion factors’ associated with the first tab26 a displays useful formulas related to field work. Non-limitativeexamples of the formulas associated with the ‘table showing a pluralityof conversion factors’ of FIG. 3 are given below, as follows

Multiply by Obtain acre 43560 square feet acre 4046.846 square metersacre 160 square ro.d.s acre 5645.4 square varas (texas) acre 0.4046846hectares acre-foot 7758 barrels acre-foot 1233.489 cubic metersatmosphere 33.94 feet of water atmosphere 29.92 inches of mercuryatmosphere 760 millimeters of mercury atmosphere 14.7 pounds per squareinch barrel 5.6146 cubic feet barrel 0.1589873 cubic meters barrel 42gallons (US) barrel 158.9873 liters barrel per hour 0.0936 cubic feetper barrel per hour 0.7 gallons (US) per minute barrel per hour 2.695cubic inches per second barrel per day 0.02917 gallons per minuteBritish thermal unit 1055.056 joule British thermal unit 0.2928 watthour Btu per minute 0.02356 horsepower centimeter 0.0328084 feetcentimeter 0.393701 inches centimeters of mercury 0.1934 pounds persquare inch chains 66 feet chains 4 ro.d.s cubic centimeter 0.061024cubic inches cubic foot 0.1781 barrels cubic foot 7.4805 gallons (US)cubic foot 28.32 liters cubic foot of steel 489.6 pounds of steel cubicfoot 1728 cubic inches cubic foot 0.0283169 cubic meters cubic foot0.03704 cubic yards cubic foot per minute 10.686 barrels per hour cubicfoot per minute 28.8 cubic inches per second cubic foot per minute 7.481gallons (US) per minute cubic inch 16.38706 cubic centimeters cubic inch0.00058 cubic feet cubic inch 0.00433 gallons (US) cubic inch 0.0163871liters cubic meter 6.289811 barrels cubic meter 35.31466 cubic feetcubic meter 1.30795 cubic yards cubic yard 4.8089 barrels cubic yard 27cubic feet cubic yard 46656 cubic inches cubic yard 0.7645549 cubicmeters foot 30.48 centimeters foot 0.3048 meters foot 0.36 varas (Texas)foot of water @ 60 deg F. 0.4331 pounds per square inch foot per second0.68182 miles per hour foot-pound per second 0.001818 horsepower gallon(US) 0.02381 barrels gallon (US) 3785412 cubic centimeters gallon (US)0.1337 cubic feet gallon (US) 231 cubic inches gallon (US) 3.785412liters gallon (UK) 4.546092 liters gallon (US) 0.8327 gallons (UK)gallon (US) per minute 1.429 barrels per hour gallon (US) per minute0.1337 cubic feet per minute gallon (US) per minute 0.002228 cubic feetper second gallon (US) per minute 34.286 barrels per day grainavoirdupois) 0.0648 grams grain per gallon (US) 17.118 parts per milliongrain per gallon (US) 142.86 pounds per million gallons grain per gallon(US) 0.01714 grams per liter gram 15.432 grains gram 0.001 kilogramsgram 1000 milligrams gram 0.03527 ounces gram 0.002205 pounds gram perliter 58.418 grains per gallon (US) hectare 2.47106 acres hectare 0.01square kilometers horsepower 33000 foot pounds per minute horsepower 550foot pounds per second horsepower 1.014 horsepower (metric) horsepower0.7456999 kilowatts inch 2.54 centimeters inch 0.08333 feet inch ofmercury 1.134 feet of water inch of mercury 0.4912 pounds per squareinch inch of water @ 60 deg F. 0.0361 pounds per square inch kilogram1000 grams kilogram 2.20462 pounds kilogram per square cm 14.223 poundsper square inch kilometer 3280.84 feet kilometer 0.6214 miles kilowatt1.34102 horsepower liter 1000 cubic centimeters liter 61.02 cubic inchesliter 0.2642 gallons liter 1.0567 quarts meter 100 centimeters meter3.281 feet meter 39.3701 inches meter 1.094 yards mile 5280 feet mile1.609 kilometers mile 1900.8 varas (Texas) mile per hour 1.4667 feet persecond ounce (avoirdupois) 437.5 grains ounce (avoirdupois) 28.34952grains part per million 0.05835 grains per gallons (US) part per million8.34 pounds per million gallons pound (mass) 7000 grains pound (mass)453.5924 grams pound (mass) per gallon 0.1198264 grams per cubiccentimeter pound per gallon (US) 0.052 pounds/sq. in/ft. of depth poundper square inch 2.309 feet of water at 60 deg F. pound per square inch2.0353 inches of mercury pound per square inch 51.697 millimeters ofmercury pound per square inch 0.0703 kilograms per sq. cm pound persquare inch 6.894757 kilopascals pound per million gallon 0.11982 partsper million quart 0.9463529 liters quart 946.3529 milliliters quintal(Mexican) 101.467 pounds ro.d. 16.5 feet square centimeter 0.155 squareinches square foot 929.0304 square centimeters square foot 0.09290304square meters square inch 6.4516 square centimeters square kilometer0.3861 square miles square meter 10.76391 square feet square meter1.19588541 square yards square mile 640 acres square mile 2.59 squarekilometers square mile 0.8361 square meters long ton (UK) 2240 poundsmetric ton 2205 pounds short ton (US) 2000 pounds metric ton 1.102 shortton (US) metric ton 1000 kilograms metric ton 6.297 barrels of water @60 deg F. short ton (US) 907.1847 kilograms short ton (US) 0.9071847tons (metric) vara (Texas) 2.7778 feet yard 0.91444 meters

In FIGS. 2 and 2A, another group of pages associated with the first tab26 a of the ‘i-Handbook’ includes a ‘conversion calculator’ 28. The‘conversion calculator’ 28 includes a plurality of ‘buttons’ 30 through68; each of the ‘buttons’ adapted to be ‘pressed’ by using a mouse toclick on each of the ‘buttons’ 30-68. The ‘conversion calculator’ 28also includes a plurality of ‘data boxes’ 70 through 108 in which anumber or other data will appear. If a user clicks a ‘button’ 30, forexample, a first plurality of units will appear in a ‘drop down menu’.Similarly, if the user dicks any one of ‘buttons’ 32 through 68 shown inFIGS. 2 and 2A, another plurality of units will also appear in a ‘dropdown menu’ associated with each ‘button’ 32-68. In operation, the‘conversion calculator’ 28 of FIGS. 2 and 2A will function as follows.Referring to the ‘input data supplied by a user’ 24 in FIG. 1, assumethat a user will enter the number ‘27’ (representing meters) in ‘databox’ 70 of FIG. 2 when ‘meters’ is associated with ‘button’ 30 and‘feet’ is associated with ‘button’ 32. When the user then presses the‘enter’ key on his keyboard, the number ‘88.5827’ (representing ‘feet’)will appear in data box' 72. Similarly, if a user enters a number in anyone of data boxes' 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 94, 98, 102, and 106(representing a first unit) of the ‘conversion calculator’ 28 of FIGS. 2and 2A, and when the user depresses the ‘enter’ key on his keyboard,another number will appear automatically in any one of ‘data boxes’ 76,80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 104, and 108 (representing a second unit).

In FIGS. 2 and 2A, in order to provide an intuitive access at firstglance, symbols are preferably used to differentiate each type ofconversion. This can be done for instance by using a thermometer fortemperature conversion, a ruler for length units, etc. The use of coloris used to indicate to the user that other units can be selected. Forinstance a click on ‘degr F’ will trigger a popup selection listing‘degr C, degr K, degr R’. The last selection is preferably kept inmemory to minimize input by users. The ‘conversion calculator’ 28 alsouses fractions, such as 1/64^(th) of an inch.

In FIG. 4, a second page (computing volumes for a ‘Single Acting TriplexPump’) associated with a first tab 26 a (labeled ‘General Info’) in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 4, the computation ofvolumes for a Single Acting Triplex Pump will be discussed.

In FIG. 4, reciprocating pumps, like mud-pumps, are a major part of theoil industry and are used for pumping and circulation of drilling mudwhile the well bore is being drilled. In routine drilling jobs, thedriller may be required to compute displacement volumes, volumedisplaced for a particular number of pump strokes, total time requiredto pump a particular volume at a given rate, etc. This calculator shownin FIG. 4 helps in carrying out these multiple operations, with a clickof a mouse, by efficiently utilizing the ‘input data supplied by a user’24 in FIG. 1

In FIG. 4, the ‘Single Acting Triplex Pump’ calculator 110 shown in FIG.4 includes a first section entitled ‘Pump Parameters’ 112, a secondsection entitled ‘Pump Calculator’ 114, a third section which is ananimated picture showing the pump in operation 116, a fourth sectionincluding a data box 118 showing the number of strokes of the pump, anda fifth section including a pair of data boxes 120 a and 120 b and anassociated pair of ‘buttons’ 120 c and 120 d, the first data box 120 abeing indicative of ‘volume’ in barrels (‘bbl’) and the second data box120 b being indicative of ‘time’ in minutes (‘min’). When the ‘buttons’120 c and 120 d of the fifth section of the calculator 110 of FIG. 4 are‘clicked-on’ using a mouse, a drop down menu will appear allowing theuser to select another set of units, other than ‘bbl’ and ‘min’.

The first section entitled ‘Pump Parameters’ 112 includes the followingplurality of ‘data boxes’ and their associated ‘buttons’, as follows:

data box ‘Efficiency’ 112 a and button ‘%’ 112 f,

data box ‘Stroke length’ 112 b and button ‘in’ 112 g,

data box ‘Liner ID’ 112 c and button ‘in’ 112 h,

data box ‘Displacement/Liner’ 112 d and button ‘bbl’ 112 i, and

data box ‘Displacement/Stroke’ 112 e and button ‘bbl’ 112 j.

When the buttons 112 f, 112 g, 112 h, 112 i, and 112 j are depressed, adrop down menu will appear enabling a user to select a different set ofunits.

The second section entitled ‘Pump Calculator’ 114 includes the followingdata boxes and associated buttons, as follows:

data box ‘pump rate’ 114 a in strokes/min,

data box ‘time’ 114 b and button ‘min’ 114 e,

data box ‘volume’ 114 c and button ‘bbl’ 114 f, and

data box ‘# strokes’ 114 d.

When the buttons 114 e and 114 f are depressed, a drop down menu willappear enabling a user to select a different set of units.

When the Efficiency 112 a and Stroke Length 112 b and Liner ID 112 c and‘pump rate’ 114 a and ‘time’ 114 b are entered by the user via akeyboard (i.e., via the ‘input data’ block 24 in FIG. 1) and when the‘enter’ key on the keyboard is depressed, the Displacement per Liner 112d, the Displacement per Stroke 112 e, the ‘volume’ 114 c, and the ‘#strokes’ 114 d are automatically calculated by the calculator 110 shownin FIG. 4. At that time when the ‘volume’ 114 c and ‘# strokes’ 114 dare calculated, the animated picture of the pump 116 in the thirdsection of the calculator 110 will begin to move thereby illustrating apump that is alternately moving in one direction and then in an oppositedirection during a pumping operation. Assuming that the ‘# strokes’ 114d shows a value of 60, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the animated picture ofthe moving pump 116 will continue its pumping operation until the‘strokes’ 118 reaches 60, at which time, the animated picture of thepump 116 will stop its pumping operation. When the pump 116 stops itspumping operation, the ‘volume’ 120 a and the ‘time’ 120 b can be readfrom their respective data boxes 120 a and 120 b. The ‘time’ in data box120 b should be equal to the ‘time’ in data box 114 b.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, ‘stroke length’ 112 b and ‘liner ID’ 112c are used to calculate the ‘displacement/liner’ 112 d and that value ismultiplied by the ‘efficiency’ 112 a to provide ‘actual displacement’.Given the fact that the pump is a triplex, the ‘actual displacement’ ismultiplied by 3 to compute the ‘displacement/stroke’ 112 e. For example,review the following equations and calculations associated with the‘Pump Parameters’ 112 section of the calculator 110 shown in FIG. 4;these equations are stored as part of the ‘i-Handbook’ software 20 ofFIG. 1, as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Displacement}\text{/}{Liner}} = {\frac{\pi}{4} \times {ID}^{2} \times {Stk}\mspace{11mu} {Lgth} \times {Eff}}} \\{= {\frac{\pi}{4} \times 6.5^{2}\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2} \times 12\mspace{14mu} {in} \times 0.95 \times \frac{bbl}{9702\mspace{14mu} {in}^{3}}}} \\{= {0.039\mspace{14mu} {bbl}}}\end{matrix}$Displacement/Stroke = 0.0.39 × 3 = 0.117  bbl/StrokeVolume = Pump  Rate × Time  to  pump × Displacement/Stroke${Volume} = {{60\frac{Strokes}{\min} \times 1\mspace{14mu} \min \times 0.117\frac{bbl}{Stroke}} = {7.018\mspace{14mu} {bbl}}}$

Although the values being shown on the display screen of the displaydevice 14 of FIG. 1 are rounded off for a better visual effect, theaccuracy in the calculation is maintained. The stroke counter, alongwith the volume and the time indicator in the right animation screen, isa useful tool for the driller because it indicates the volume pumpedthus far, and the time elapsed for a particular value of total strokes.The calculator shown in FIG. 4 is provided for the four (4) most commontypes of pumps used in the industry, namely, a single acting triplex, asingle acting duplex, a double acting triplex, and a double actingduplex type of pump. Double acting pumps add some complexity to theproblem because of additional rod volume that should be deducted fromthe liner volume.

In FIG. 5, a third page (‘Horizontal Cylindrical Tank—Strap Chart’)associated with a first tab 26 a (labeled ‘General Info’) in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 5, the computation oftank volumes and generating tank straps will be discussed.

In FIG. 5, the third page (‘computing tank volumes and generating tankstraps’) includes a picture of a tank 124 having dimensions D for‘Diameter’, L for ‘Length’, and B for ‘End Cap’ as shown. Data boxes 126requiring data entry by a user, and their associated buttons 128, areillustrated in FIG. 5. For example, the data boxes 126 which requiredata entry by a user include: [ID] ‘Diameter’, [L] ‘Length’, [B] ‘EndCap’, and ‘Depth from Top’. Data boxes 128, which contain data that iscalculated in accordance with the data entries in the data boxes 126,include: ‘Depth from Top’ and ‘Current Volume’. In operation, when theuser types the required data associated with the tank 124 in FIG. 5 inthe ‘Diameter’, ‘Length’, ‘End Cap’, and ‘Depth from Top’ data boxes 126in FIG. 5 (see ‘input data supplied by user’ 24 block in FIG. 1), andwhen the user depresses the ‘enter’ key on the keyboard, the ‘Depth fromTop’ and the ‘Current Volume’ data in the data boxes 128 of FIG. 5 willbe calculated. At this time, when the ‘Depth from Top’ and ‘CurrentVolume’ data set forth in data boxes 128 of FIG. 5 are calculated, acorresponding entry 130 will be made in the ‘Strap Chart’ table 132shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 5, this interactive feature, known as ‘computing tank volumesand generating tank straps’, allows the user to compute the volume fortanks having differing geometries, such as a horizontal and verticalflat head tank, and a horizontal and vertical cylindrical tank, whichare among the four most common types of storage tanks found in theindustry. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the user can define the tankdimensions 126 and 128 on the left page, and, as a result, a respectivestrap chart table 132 is generated on the right page. The strap charttable 132 is generated using a local “Table Control” module developed inthe software that enables the margin, displays formats in the cells,displays row highlight, performs table scroll, and enables the abilityto copy and paste the data in other applications, such as Microsoft Wordand Excel.

In FIG. 5, referring to data boxes 126, the example simulates a tankthat is 10 feet in diameter, 37¾ A feet in length with end caps that are1 foot wide in the middle. Referring to data boxes 128, volume at thedepth of interest (3 feet in this case) is computed and also highlightedon line 130 in the adjoining strap chart table 132 that is generatedbased on the table control feature. The tank level displayed in thepicture is of dynamic nature and changes with any change in the user'sinputs. This provides additional visualization of tank level to theuser.

In FIG. 6, a first page (‘Physical Properties of Casings based on VendorSupplied Data’) associated with a second tab 26 b (labeled ‘CoiledTubing and Pipe Data’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated.In FIG. 6, the display of tubular data based, on supplier data and theability to search through a database will be discussed.

This section the i-Handbook pertains to data pertaining to mechanicalproperties of the various tubular types that are used in construction ofa well bore. These include casing, tubing, coiled tubing, drill pipesand hangers. These tubular are usually defined on the basis of theirdiameters, weight and yield strengths, and given the fact that a largetype of them are commercially available, a database was created to storethe information. Using the “table control” feature, the data iscurrently being displayed in a tabular format with row separation onevery 5^(th) row. This makes it easy for the user to view.

The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 provides tubular information in a quick and easy touse manner, with a unique “search” feature, which makes it easier forthe user to locate the proper data in the shortest possible time. Also,the database manager in the program allows the data to be displayed onthe basis of supplier and brand name. In example below in FIG. 6, theseare shown as “Dalmine S.p.A” and “Antares”. It must also be noted thatsome of the data presented in the display is calculated “on-the-fly”rather than hard-coding it in the database. This helps in limiting thesize of the application, thus making it faster in operation. As anexample, in FIG. 6 above, Casing OD, Weight, Grade, Wall Thickness, andcoupling OD are stored in the database; remaining values like ID,Internal Yield, Collapse Resistance, Tensile Yield and Joint Strengthsare all computed based on equations. Apart from search, the “pagecontrol” module allows the usage of “2-page” mode for more informationon the same tubular type; and the “graphics” control provides thedisplay of scanned joint images.

In FIG. 6, the first page associated with the second tab 26 b of the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 includes a page 134 labeled ‘PhysicalProperties of Casing based on Vendor Supplied Data’ 134. On this page inFIG. 6 and as noted earlier, the ‘stored data’ (where the ‘stored data’is supplied by a vendor) includes the ‘Casing OD’, ‘Weight’, ‘Grade’;‘Wall Thickness’, and ‘coupling OD’, the ‘stored data being stored inthe database 22 c; however, the remaining values like ID’, ‘InternalYield’, ‘Collapse Resistance’, ‘Tensile Yield’ and ‘Joint Strengths’ areall instantly calculated in response to the ‘stored data’ which issupplied by a user (via the ‘input data’ block 24 in FIG. 1) using a setof equations which are stored in the database 22 c.

In FIG. 6, let us now assume that a user has a value of ‘OD=7 inch’ and‘weight=20.00 lbm/ft’ for a casing and that the user wants to search forall the vendors, that have or can install casings having that ‘OD’ and‘weight. In that case, in FIG. 6, click on the ‘search icon’ 136 shownin FIG. 6, the ‘search icon’ 136 appearing at the bottom of the screenshown in FIG. 6. When the ‘search icon’ 136 is ‘clicked on’ by the user,a ‘particular window display’ 138 in FIG. 6 will appear on the user'sdisplay screen associated with the ‘recorder or display device’ 14 inFIG. 1. In the ‘particular window display’ 138, all of the vendors whichcarry or install casing having an ‘OD=7 inch’ and a ‘weight=20.00lbm/ft’ will be listed in the window 138 of FIG. 6. For example, in FIG.6, vendor ‘Dalmine s.p.A’ having a brand name of ‘Antares’ is listed inthe window 138. If the user wants to see a drawing of the ‘particularcasing’ which is sold by the vendors shown in the ‘particular windowdisplay’ 138 of FIG. 6, the user can merely click on the ‘display icon’140 shown in FIG. 6, at which point, another window will appear on theuser's display screen 14 showing a drawing of the ‘particular casing’.

In FIG. 7, a second page (‘Tubular Stretch Calculator—Free PointCalculator’) associated with a second tab 26 b (labeled ‘Coiled Tubingand Pipe Data’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG.7, the calculation of tubular stretch and free point will be discussed.

In FIG. 7, drilling strings or other tubular that are run into awellbore may be subjected to temporary sticking or stretch and, as aresult, field personnel may be required to compute the amount of stretchor, in some cases, the point in the wellbore where the tubular is stuck.These are very important calculations and must yield results with goodaccuracy. The tubular stretch calculator in FIG. 7 in the ‘i-Handbook’26 of FIG. 1 works on the mechanical property of the tubular underconsideration and computes the results based on user's inputs, suppliedvia the ‘input data’ block 24 in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 illustrates one suchexample. The tubular stretch calculator of FIG. 7 associated with thesecond tab 26 b of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 uses the following‘inbuilt equations’ in response to the user's ‘input data’ 24 of FIG. 1to calculate a ‘set of computed results’ as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{Stretch} = \frac{{F({lb})} \times 12({in})L}{{A_{cs}\left( {in}^{2} \right)} \times \left( {30 \times 10^{6}} \right)\left( \frac{lb}{{in}^{2}} \right)}} \\{= {\frac{0.4 \times L \times F}{10^{6}A_{cs}}{in}}} \\{= \frac{\left( {0.4 \times 1000} \right)L \times (1000)F}{10^{6}A_{cs}}} \\{= \frac{0.4 \times L \times F}{A_{cs}}}\end{matrix}$ ${\begin{matrix}{A_{cs} = {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {D_{o}^{2} - d_{i}^{2}} \right){in}^{2}}} \\{= {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {5^{2} - 4.408^{2}} \right){in}^{2}}} \\{= {4.374\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}}}\end{matrix}\therefore{Stretch}} = {\frac{0.4 \times 10 \times 30}{4.374} = {27.433\mspace{14mu} {in}}}$

Converse of this is, using a stretch set at 27.434 inches (see rightpage of FIG. 7) for the same drill pipe, the ‘set of computed results’yields a depth of 10,000 feet, which is the input depth of above exampleindicating a consistency in results.

In FIG. 7, the Tubular Stretch Calculator 140 is associated with thesecond tab 26 b and includes a left page for calculating ‘effectivestretch’ 142 given ‘input data’ 24 of FIG. 1 which includes the ‘OD of apipe’ 144, the ‘weight of the pipe’ 146, the ‘ID of the pipe’ 148, and a‘length’ 150 of the pipe, the ‘length’ 150 being the length of the pipefrom a point at the surface of the wellbore to a point downhole wherethe pipe is stuck in a wellbore. For example, assuming that the pipe isstuck downhole at a point (x), the ‘length of the pipe from a point atthe surface of the wellbore to the point (x) downhole’ is the ‘length’150 of the pipe, as shown on the left page of the calculator 140 in FIG.7. Whereas the left page of the calculator 140 in FIG. 7 will calculatethe ‘effective stretch’ given the ‘length of the pipe from a point atthe surface of the wellbore to the point (x) downhole’, the right pageof the calculator 140 in FIG. 7 will calculate the ‘length of the pipefrom a point at the surface of the wellbore to the point (x) downhole’given the ‘effective stretch’.

In FIG. 7, referring to the left page 140 a of the ‘tubular stretchcalculator—free point calculator’ 140 in FIG. 7, the left page 140 a ofthe calculator 140 will calculate the ‘effective stretch’ given the‘length of the pipe from a point at the surface of the wellbore to thepoint (x) downhole’. The ‘input data’ 24 includes the ‘OD of a pipe’144, the ‘weight of the pipe’ 146, the ‘ID of the pipe’ 148, a ‘length’150 of the pipe, an upward pulling force or ‘Pull’ 152, and a ‘Young'sModulus for Steel’ 154. When the user depresses the ‘enter’ key on thekeyboard, the ‘Effective Stretch’ 142 will automatically be calculated.As a result, when the length of the pipe is 10,000 feet (as illustratedin FIG. 7) and when the upward pulling force is 30,000 lbm, using aYoung's modulus of 3e+007, an ‘Effective Stretch’ of 27.4 inches iscalculated. Therefore, the pipe will stretch 27.4 inches when the pipeis stuck 10000 feet downhole and an upward pulling force of 30000 lbm isapplied to the pipe at the surface of the wellbore when the pipe has aYoung's modulus of 3e=007.

In FIG. 7, referring to the right page 140 b of the ‘tubular stretchcalculator—free point calculator’ 140 in FIG. 7, the right page 140 b ofthe calculator 140 in FIG. 7 will calculate the ‘length of the pipe froma point at the surface of the wellbore to the point (x) downhole’ giventhe ‘effective stretch’. The ‘input data’ 24 includes ‘OD of the pipe’156, the ‘weight of the pipe’ 158, the ‘total stretch’ 160, and the‘Young's modulus of the pipe’. Given the ‘input data’ 24, when a userdepresses the ‘enter’ key on a keyboard, a numerical entry in the ‘freepoint is located at’ data box 166 on the right page 140 b will be,automatically calculated. For example, when the ‘OD’ 156 and the‘weight’ 158 on the right page 140 b are the same as the ‘OD’ 144 andthe ‘weight’ 146 on the left page 140 a, and when a ‘total stretch’ of27.4 inches on the right page 140 b is the same as the ‘stretch’ 142 onthe left page 140 a, and when the ‘pull’ is 30000 lbm and the Young'smodulus is 3e=007 psi, and when the user depresses the ‘enter’ key onthe keyboard, a value of 10,000 feet is automatically calculated as thenumerical entry in the ‘free point is located at’ data box 166 on theright page 140 b in FIG. 7. As a result, given a stretch of 27.4 incheswhen an upward pulling force of 30000 lbm is applied to the pipe whenthe pipe is stuck downhole, the ‘length of the pipe from a point at thesurface of the wellbore to the point (x) downhole’, where the pipe isstuck downhole, is 10000 feet.

In FIG. 8, a first page (‘Dimensions and Capacities of Tubing’)associated with a third tab 26 c (labeled ‘Volume’) in the ‘i-Handbook’26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 8, tubular capacities anddisplacement volumes will be discussed.

In FIG. 8, this section primarily pertains to displaying the capacity oftubular and open holes in various volume gradient units like bbl/ft,ft3/ft, m3/m etc. An Annular capacity calculator is also provided inthis section to help the user in determining the capacity of annularspaces between two concentric pipes. This section shown in FIG. 8utilizes the tubular dimensions that are available in the tubulardatabase mentioned under Section 3.2 and calculates the capacity anddisplacement by using simple equations. Tubular under consideration aretubing, coiled tubing, casing and drill pipes.

Following is an example calculation for ‘1.05’ in OD with ‘1.14 lbm/ft’and ‘0.824 inch’ ID tubing:

${Capacity} = {\frac{\pi}{4}{{ID}^{2}\left( {in}^{2} \right)} \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times 1\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}$$\begin{matrix}{{Capacity} = {\frac{\pi}{4}0.824^{2}\left( {in}^{2} \right) \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times 1\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {0.000659\frac{bbl}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$

Displacement of a tubular is the amount of fluid it will displace whenit is submerged, either open ended or plugged in the well bore filledwith some fluid. Calculations are as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Disp}.\; ({Open})} = {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {{OD}^{2} - {ID}^{2}} \right){in}^{2} \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times 1\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {1.05^{2} - 0.824^{2}} \right)\frac{1}{144 \times 5.6146}}} \\{= {4.11 \times 10^{- 4}\frac{bbl}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Disp}.\; ({Plug})} = {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {OD}^{2} \right){in}^{2} \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times 1\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( 1.05^{2} \right)\frac{1}{144 \times 5.6146}}} \\{= {1.0709 \times 10^{- 3}\frac{bbl}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$

In FIG. 8, a table entitled ‘Dimensions and Capacities of Tubing’ 168 isillustrated, the table on the left page and the table on the right pagebeing the same, the table on the right and left pages each having six(6) columns. The six columns comprise the following: given or storeddata including the ‘OD of the tubing’ 170, the ‘weight of the tubing’172, and the ‘ID of the tubing’ 174, and calculated data including the‘capacity’ 176, the ‘displacement—open’ 178, and the‘displacement—plugged’ 180. As a result, in FIG. 8, the followingcolumns of data are stored in the database 22 c of FIG. 1: the ‘OD ofthe tubing’ 170, the ‘weight of the tubing’ 172, and the ‘ID of thetubing’ 174. However, in response to certain ‘input data’ 24 supplied bya user which would include the ‘OD of the tubing’ 170, the ‘weight ofthe tubing’ 172, and the ‘ID of the tubing’ 174, the following data inFIG. 8 are automatically calculated: the ‘capacity’ 176, the‘displacement—open’ 178, and the ‘displacement—plugged’ 180.

In FIG. 9, a second page (‘Annular Volume Calculator’) associated with athird tab 26 c (labeled ‘Volume’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 isillustrated. In FIG. 9, annulus volume calculations will be discussed.

In FIG. 9, the Annular Volume Calculator 182 includes a left page 182 aand a right page 182 b. On the left page 182 a, a tubular and casingconfiguration 184 is illustrated including an outer casing 184 a and aninner tubing 184 b and an annular space 184 c disposed between the innertubing 184 b and the outer casing 184 a. The annular space 184 c has acertain volume of fluid contained therein. On the left page 182 a, atthe bottom, the dimensions of the ‘outer casing’ 184 a are shown. (seenumeral 186); in addition, the dimensions of the ‘inner tubing’ 184 bare also shown (see numeral 188). The dimensions for the ‘outer casing’184 a include: ‘casing’, ‘outer diameter (OD)’, ‘weight’, and ‘innerdiameter (ID)’; and the dimensions for the ‘inner tubing’ 184 b include:‘tubing’, ‘outer diameter (OD)’, ‘weight’, and ‘inner diameter (ID)’.The ‘casing’, ‘outer diameter (OD)’, ‘weight’, and ‘tubing’ dimensionsare all drop down boxes of the type previously described. On the rightpage 182 b, the following sets of data boxes are illustrated: ‘volumefor unit length’ 190, ‘metal displacement of outer’ 192, ‘metaldisplacement of inner’ 194, ‘volume for given depth’ 196, and ‘depth forgiven volume’ 198. In the ‘volume for given depth’ 196, an annular andtubular volume is calculated for a given depth; and, in ‘depth for givenvolume’ 198, the annular and tubular depth is calculated for a givenvolume. In FIG. 9, right page 182 b at the bottom, numerals 196 a and196 b refer to annular and tubular volumes, and numerals 198 a and 198 brefer to annular and tubular depths.

In FIG. 9, the word ‘annulus’ 184 c is defined as the space 184 c thatexists between the inner diameter of the outside pipe 184 a and outerdiameter of inside pipe 184 b, if they are arranged in concentric manneras shown in FIG. 9. Calculation of annulus volumes (196 a and 196 b) isimportant in well services applications if the user wants to determinehow much fluid will be contained in the given annular space 184 c or howmuch height will a given fluid volume occupy in a given annularconfiguration. These calculations are commonplace in field operations.In FIG. 9, the screen on the left page 182 a (see numerals 186 and 188)is user input which allows the user to select any possible configurationby using the available database (22 in FIG. 1) on casing, tubing, drillpipe and coiled tubing (where the available database is shown in FIG. 8)thus providing the inner and outer diameters required for calculations.The user can also choose custom sizes (not in the database 22 c) todefine annular configurations.

In FIG. 9, the output shown on the ‘right side-bottom section’ 196 and198 of the calculator 182 in FIG. 9 helps in computing ‘volumes’ whenthe total ‘depth’ (i.e., annular and tubular depth) is given by the user(see numeral 198), in accordance with the ‘outer’ and ‘inner’configurations input by the user as ‘input data’ 24 on the left screenof FIG. 9; or in computing total ‘height’ or ‘depth’ when the total‘volume’ (i.e., annular and tubular volume) is given by the user (seenumeral 196), the total volume being the volume that a fluid will occupyin the given tubular configuration.

The following are calculations for capacities:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Annular}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity}} = {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {{ID}_{outside}^{2} - {OD}_{inside}^{2}} \right){in}^{2} \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times}} \\{{1\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {\frac{\pi}{4} \times \frac{\left( {4.09^{2} - 1.05^{2}} \right)}{144 \times 5.6146}}} \\{= {0.015179\frac{bbl}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Tubular}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity}} = {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( {OD}^{2} \right){in}^{2} \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times 1\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {\frac{\pi}{4}\left( 0.824^{2} \right)\frac{1}{144 \times 5.6146}}} \\{= {0.000659\frac{bbl}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$

The following are calculations for Annulus volumes and depths:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Annular}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}} = {{Annular}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity} \times {Depth}}} \\{= {0.015179\frac{bbl}{ft} \times 1000\mspace{14mu} {ft}}} \\{= {15.1791\mspace{14mu} {bbl}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Annular}\mspace{14mu} {Depth}} = {{Annular}\mspace{14mu} {{Volume} \div {Annular}}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity}}} \\{= {5\mspace{20mu} {{bbl} \div 0.015179}\frac{bbl}{ft}}} \\{= {329.4\mspace{14mu} {ft}}}\end{matrix}$

Following are the calculations for Tubular volumes and depths:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Tubular}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}} = {{Tubular}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity} \times {Depth}}} \\{= {0.000659\frac{bbl}{ft} \times 1000\mspace{14mu} {ft}}} \\{= {0.659575\mspace{14mu} {bbl}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Tubular}\mspace{14mu} {Depth}} = {{Tubular}\mspace{14mu} {{Volume} \div {Tubular}}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity}}} \\{= {5\mspace{20mu} {{bbl} \div 0.000659}\frac{bbl}{ft}}} \\{= {7580.63\mspace{14mu} {ft}}}\end{matrix}$

In FIG. 10, a first page (‘Slurry Density Tables’) associated with afourth tab 26 d (labeled ‘Fracturing’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1is illustrated. In FIG. 10, slurry density calculations will bediscussed.

In FIG. 10, hydraulic fracturing is performed on oil and gas wells inorder to bypass the damage that may have been caused during the welldrilling phase thus greatly enhancing the total production from thereservoir. Usually, polymer based gels are injected into the formationat rates and pressures high enough to fracture the formation, and solidparticles (known as proppants) are placed inside the cracks in theformation in order to create artificial channels that ideally offerlittle or no resistance to the flow of hydrocarbons. This helps toincrease the production of the wellbore. This section of the‘i-Handbook’ 26 provides data and several calculators that are ofimmense help to field personnel.

In FIG. 10, a Slurry Density Table 200 is illustrated. When ‘proppants’are added to clean fluid, the resultant fluid is often known as ‘slurry’and the weight of the ‘slurry’ is described by a dimensionless numberknown as ‘specific gravity’. The ‘specific gravity’ increases with anincrease in the ‘proppants’. ‘Specific gravity’ is the ratio of thedensity of the material to the density of water. In other words, as thedensity increases, specific gravity also increases. This calculatorutilizes the ‘proppant specific gravity’ data available from theproppant database to compute the ‘density of the resultant slurry’ afterthe user enters the desired ‘proppant concentration and water density’.A table is also generated on the right page for the same proppant type,which also provides the hydrostatic pressure gradient along with otheruseful data. The following equations are used in calculations:

${{C\; F\; R} = {\frac{1}{1 + \frac{PPA}{\rho_{prop}}}\therefore{{For}\mspace{14mu} 2\mspace{14mu} {PPA}\mspace{14mu} {Slurry}\mspace{14mu} {Conc}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {Ceramic}\mspace{14mu} {Prop}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} 2.6\mspace{14mu} {S.G.}}}},{{C\; F\; R} = {\frac{1}{1 + \frac{2\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUS}}{2.6 \times 8.33\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUs}}} = 0.92}}$$\begin{matrix}{{{Slurry}\mspace{14mu} {Density}} = {C\; F\; {R\left( {{P\; P\; A} + \rho_{fluid}} \right)}}} \\{= {0.92\left( {{2\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}} + {8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \right)}} \\{= {9.46\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Hydrostatic}\mspace{20mu} {Head}\mspace{14mu} {Gradient}} = {\frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}} \times \frac{7.4804\mspace{11mu} {galUS}}{{ft}^{3}} \times}} \\{{{Slurry}\mspace{14mu} {Density}\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {0.052 \times 9.46\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {0.491\frac{psi}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$

FIG. 10 shows the computer display screen (recorder or display device 14of FIG. 1) associated with the slurry density calculations and the userinput data boxes.

In FIG. 11, a second page (‘Gate Percentage Calculator’) associated witha fourth tab 26 d (labeled ‘Fracturing’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG.1 is illustrated. In FIG. 11, generating gate percent charts for a givenpump schedule will be discussed.

In FIG. 11, correct amount of proppants must be added to the fluid inorder to obtain the desired concentration. This task is more importantwhen the mixing is carried out during the job. There exists a heavy-dutyblender called the ‘Programmable Optimal Density (POD)’ that facilitatesthis operation by allowing dry proppant to fall into cones that areplaced above the fluid that is being pumped. This action causes the sandto mix with the fluid and the opening of a gate controls the amount ofproppant. For more concentration of proppant, the gates open wider andvice versa. Although the gate opening is controlled by the continuousfeedback of density, for purposes of quality control, a close watch ismaintained on the amount or degree to which a gate should open for aparticular type of proppant and proppant rate. Theoretical expressionslinking gate % to proppant rates have been established by extensive labwork. In FIG. 11, the current module in the i-Handbook' 26, hereinaftercalled a ‘Gate Percentage Calculator’ 202, can simulate the gateopenings for six (6) different types of PODs. The ‘Gate PercentageCalculator’ 202 application of FIG. 11 takes the properties of theproppant from the database and uses a user's input to compute the gateopenings based on equations that are provided in the ‘Gate PercentageCalculator’ 202 module. An example calculation associated with one verybasic type of POD is shown below.

Consider 7 PPA of 3.25 S.G proppant being pumped at 35 bbl/min, how muchwould the gate of a traditional POD open? First we calculate the cleanfluid ratio, CFR as follows.

${{C\; F\; R} = {\frac{1}{1 + \frac{PPA}{\rho_{prop}}}\therefore{{For}\mspace{14mu} 7\mspace{14mu} {PPA}\mspace{14mu} {Slurry}\mspace{14mu} {Conc}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {Ceramic}\mspace{14mu} {Prop}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} 3.25\mspace{14mu} {S.G.}}}},{{C\; F\; R} = {\frac{1}{1 + \frac{7\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUS}}{3.25 \times 8.33\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUs}}} = 0.7945}}$

Then we compute the rate at which the proppant is being moved,

$\begin{matrix}{{{Prop}\mspace{14mu} {Rate}} = {q\frac{bbl}{\min} \times C\; F\; R \times 42\frac{galUS}{bbl} \times P\; P\; A\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {35\frac{bbl}{\min} \times 0.7945 \times 42\frac{galUS}{bbl} \times 7\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {8175.97\frac{{lb}\; m}{\min}}}\end{matrix}$

Now, we convert this to “adjusted rate” as a ratio with common sandrate,

$\begin{matrix}{{{Adjusted}\mspace{14mu} {Rate}} = {{Original}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{Rate} \times \frac{S.G.\mspace{14mu} {Sand}}{S.G.\mspace{11mu} {Prop}}}} \\{= {8175.97\frac{{lb}\; m}{\min} \times \frac{2.65}{3.25}}} \\{= {6666.56\frac{{lb}\; m}{\min}}}\end{matrix}$

Now we compute the gate % opening based on one of the many empiricalrelations developed in labs:

Gate % Opening=99.5−√{square root over (9900−[(20196+Adj.Rate)÷2.95])}=71%

FIG. 11 illustrates the concept of Generating Gate Percentage (%) Chartsfor a given pump schedule. Fonts in blue on the left page of FIG. 11 are‘input data’. The right page of FIG. 11 is ‘output page’. The ‘play’button on the right screen of FIG. 11 can animate the gate percentageopenings for the pump schedule provided by the user.

In FIG. 12, a third page (‘Screen Out Calculations’) associated with afourth tab 26 d (labeled ‘Fracturing’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1is illustrated. In FIG. 12, screen out calculations will be discussed.

In FIG. 12, a ‘screen out calculator’ 204 is illustrated. On someoccasions, it may not be possible to pump the fracturing treatments asdesigned and this may result in some left over proppant on the surface,or in the tubular, or in both places. This is called a ‘screen out’ and,for the purpose of logistics, it becomes important to compute the amountof proppant that was successfully placed in the formation and the amountof proppant that could not be pumped into the formation. In FIG. 12, the‘screen out calculator’ 204 utilizes the properties of the proppantchosen by the user (which he can, override by manually entering thespecific gravity) and also ‘input data’ related to a particular wellboreconfiguration (such as a displacement volume to the top of perforation,the volume of the surface line, the volume flushed, the amount ofproppant pumped measured at surface, etc) to calculate the amount ofproppant remaining in the tubular. Further, an advanced feature of thiscalculator 204, as seen on the right page of the calculator 204 in FIG.12, includes a new data box entitled ‘expected top of proppant’ whereindata pertaining to the ‘expected top of the proppant’ is provided to auser in the event that a coiled tubing cleaning unit is used to bail outthe solids. FIG. 12 provides an example of the above referenced ‘screenout calculations’.

An Example problem is provided, as follows: How much sand was left inthe tubular if, of the total 45,000 lbm designed, only 40,000 lbm waspumped, with a total of 29.5 bbl of 4 ppa, 55 bbl or 6 ppa and 10 bbl of8 ppa 2.65 S.G. sand left in the pipe. Wellbore volume is 144.5 bbl,surface line volume is 5 bbls, and the job was successfully flushed by55 bbls. Is there sand in the surface line? What was the percentageproppant placed in formation? Where will one expect the top of sand, ifthe casing has 4.0 inch ID? Based on the (CFR) equation set forth abovein connection with the Gate Percentage Calculator 202 of FIG. 11, wemust first calculate CFR and Proppant for all 3 stages as follows,

S/out Volume, PPA bbls CFR Prop, lbm 4 29.5 0.846593 4195.72 6 550.786283 10897.88 8 10 0.733994 2466.22

Where the ‘proppant amount’ is computed as

${{Proppant}\mspace{14mu} {Amount}},{{{lb}\; m} = {C\; F\; R \times 42\frac{galUS}{bbl} \times {Screen}\mspace{14mu} {out}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}}},{{bbl} \times P\; P\; A\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}$$\begin{matrix}{{Example},{{{Prop}\mspace{14mu} {Amount}} = {0.8466 \times 42\frac{galUS}{bbl} \times 29.5\mspace{14mu} {bbl} \times 4}}} \\{= {4195.72\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$

Now, we compute the total amount of sand in the tubular, which is theanswer to first question:

Total proppant in tubular, lbm=4195+10898+2466=˜17560 lbm

Since the total flush volume 55 bbls is more than the surface linevolume 5 bbls, there is no sand in the surface line. To get thepercentage placed, we do the following calculations:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Proppant}\mspace{14mu} {in}\mspace{14mu} {formation}},{{{lb}\; m} = {{{Proppant}\mspace{14mu} {pumped}} - {Proppant}}}} \\{{{in}\mspace{14mu} {Tubular}}} \\{= {40000 - {17560\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}} \\{= {22440\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Percentage}\mspace{14mu} {Placed}},{\% = {\frac{{Proppant}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{in}\mspace{14mu} {formation}}{{Proppant}\mspace{14mu} {designed}} \times 100}}} \\{= {\frac{22440}{45000} \times 100}} \\{= {49.9\%}}\end{matrix}$

To calculate the ‘expected top of proppant’, we calculate the amount offlush in the wellbore and then compute the depth by using the capacitygradient of the tubular:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Wellborn}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{flush}},{{bbl} = {{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {flush}} - {{surface}\mspace{14mu} {line}\mspace{14mu} {volume}}}}} \\{= {55\text{-}5\mspace{14mu} {bbl}\; s}} \\{= {50\mspace{14mu} {bbl}\; s}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Tubular}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity}} = {\frac{\pi}{4} \times 4^{2}\left( {in}^{2} \right) \times \frac{{ft}^{2}}{144\mspace{11mu} {in}^{2}} \times 1\mspace{11mu} {ft} \times \frac{bbl}{5.6145\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {0.015542\frac{bbl}{ft}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Tagging}\mspace{14mu} {Depth}} = {{Flush}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{{Volume} \div {Tubular}}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{Capacity}}} \\{= {50\mspace{14mu} {{bbl} \div 0.015542}\frac{bbl}{ft}}} \\{= {3216.92\mspace{14mu} {ft}}}\end{matrix}$

In FIGS. 13 and 14, a first page (‘Cement Slurry Calculations’)associated with a fifth tab 26 e (labeled ‘Cementing’) in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIGS. 13 and 14, ‘cementslurry calculations showing the property of a blended cement’ and ‘bulkplant loading guide generated based on user inputs’ will be discussed.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, a ‘cement slurry calculations’ 206 are illustrated.Cementing is an important part of well services, and typically involvespreparing and pumping cement slurries to provide a strong bond betweenthe formation and casing or, in some cases, plugging the formation forabandonment procedures. Improperly cemented casings can create a realproblem that may range from ground water contamination, to channeling,and commingling of formation fluids. The ‘cement slurry calculations’206 section of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 provides details on the physicalproperties of several cement and cement additives that are used toprovide strength and stability to cement, such details being provided inthe form of hard coded information for the user. In addition, the‘cement slurry calculations’ 206 section of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 alsoallows the user to add new chemicals to the database (22 of FIG. 1)since new products may be continuously launched from the productdevelopment center. As noted in the preceding sections of thisspecification, several useful calculators utilize user input dataprovided via the ‘input data’ block 24 in FIG. 1, database informationstored in the database 22 c of FIG. 1, and several sets of equations andalgorithms also stored as part of the ‘i-Handbook software’ 20 of FIG.1.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, examples of Cement Slurry. Calculations areillustrated. Prior to using the ‘cement slurry calculator’ 206 of FIGS.13 and 14 which has three (3) basic steps, the user is required to enterthe amount of cement wanted, the system name (e.g. Lead, Tail, etc), thedensity of desired cement, and the water temperature. Later, during Step1, the user is asked to construct the cement blend, which typicallyinvolves constructing a blend of cementation material that isessentially dry in nature. Properties of, the cement blend are definedby the density of the blend, the weight of the cement sack, and itsabsolute volume. In Step 2, the user is required to select the properblend that is used for calculations. The user may choose the blend thathe just constructed or even neat cement. In Step III, additives areadded to the blend that was constructed by the user. The results at theend of this step provide a full description of slurry by calculatingslurry yield, mix water requirements, base fluid requirement, and mixfluid values. Later, based on the total cement volume desired, thecalculator 206 also calculates the amount of neat cement, and otheradditives that would be required for the job. The results can beexported to any spreadsheet for easy use

User inputs (such as required density, volume, percent (%) weight orvolume of blend constituents, or percent (%) weight or concentration ofcement additives) are combined with a knowledge of cement and additiveproperties (such as absolute volume and density from the cement,additive database) to arrive at the final results. If a particularadditive does not exist in the database or if the properties aredifferent, the user can also create his/her own material and append itto database. The calculations involved are very intense and, on someoccasions, iterative schemes are used to compute the effects ofdissolution of some salts in water. One simplified case is given as anexample, as follows:

Example: Determine the basic properties of a dry cement blend of 65%Class G and 35% D035 Extender by Absolute Volume where the total mass ofthe sack is 84 lbm. Further, calculate how much cement and D035 would beneeded to construct 166.8 bbls of 14.5 lbm/galUS density cement slurry.

From the additive database, we know that the absolute density of Class Gcement is 199.76 lbm/ft3 and that of D035 is 154.82 lbm/ft3. Now, wefind the absolute volume when both constituents are mixed in a blend asfollows:

${{Absolute}\mspace{14mu} {{Volume}({gal})}} = {\left( {{7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}} \times 100 \times {Sk}\mspace{11mu} {Mass}},{{lb}\; m}} \right) \div \left\{ {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{i = 8}{\left( {{{Abs}\mspace{14mu} {{Vol}.\mspace{14mu} \%_{1}}\rho_{B_{1}}} + {{{Abs}.\mspace{14mu} {Vol}.\mspace{14mu} \%_{2}}{\rho_{B}}_{2}} + \ldots + {{{Abs}.\mspace{14mu} {Vol}.\mspace{14mu} \%_{8}}\rho_{B_{8}}}} \right)\frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}}}} \right\}}$$\mspace{20mu} \begin{matrix}{{{Absolute}\mspace{14mu} {{Volume}({gal})}} = {\left( {7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}} \times 84\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m} \right) \div}} \\{{\left\{ {\left( {0.65 \times 199.76} \right) + \left( {0.35 \times 154.82} \right)} \right\} \frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {3.414\mspace{14mu} {gal}}}\end{matrix}$

The ‘effective mixed volume blend density’ is determined as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Blend}\mspace{14mu} {Density}} = \frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}}} \\{= {\frac{{{Sack}\mspace{14mu} {Mass}},{{lb}\; m}}{{{Eff}.\mspace{14mu} {Mix}.\mspace{11mu} {Vol}},{gal}} \times 7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {\frac{84\mspace{11mu} {lb}\; m}{3.414\mspace{14mu} {gal}} \times 7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}} \\{= {184.04\frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}}}}\end{matrix}$

Thus, our answer to the first part of the question is 3.414 gal and184.04 lbm/ft3. Since no additive is added to the blend, we will proceedto calculate the mix water requirements, as follows:

${{Mix}\mspace{14mu} {water}\frac{gal}{sack}} = {\left\{ {{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Mass}},{{{lb}\; m} - \left( {{{Slurry}\mspace{14mu} {Density}\frac{{lb}\; m}{gal} \times {Total}\mspace{14mu} {Vol}},{gal}} \right)}} \right\} + \left( {{{Slurry}\mspace{14mu} {Density}\frac{{lb}\; m}{gal}} - {{Water}\mspace{20mu} {Density}\frac{{lb}\; m}{gal}}} \right)}$$\mspace{20mu} \begin{matrix}{{{Mix}\mspace{14mu} {Water}} = \frac{gal}{sack}} \\{= {\left\{ {{84\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m} - \left( {14.5\mspace{14mu} \frac{{lb}\; m}{gal} \times 3.414\mspace{14mu} {gal}} \right)} \right\} +}} \\{\left( {{14.5\frac{{lb}\; m}{gal}} - {8.32\frac{{lb}\; m}{gal}}} \right)} \\{= {5.582\frac{gal}{sack}}}\end{matrix}$

Yield of cement and total sacks required can be calculated as follows:

${{Cement}\mspace{14mu} {Yield}\frac{{ft}^{3}}{sack}} = {\left( {{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}},{\frac{gal}{sack} + {{Mix}\mspace{14mu} {Water}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}}},\frac{gal}{sack}} \right) + {7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}}$$\mspace{20mu} \begin{matrix}{{{Cement}\mspace{14mu} {Yield}\frac{{ft}^{3}}{sack}} = {\left( {{3.414\frac{gal}{sack}} + {5.582\frac{gal}{sack}}} \right) + {7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}}} \\{= {12.026\frac{{ft}^{3}}{sack}}}\end{matrix}$${{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Sacks}\mspace{14mu} {needed}} = {{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Cement}\mspace{14mu} {Required}}},{{bbl} \times {\frac{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}{bbl} \div {Cement}}\mspace{14mu} {Yield}\frac{{ft}^{3}}{sack}}$$\mspace{20mu} \begin{matrix}{{{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Sacks}\mspace{14mu} {needed}} = 166.8},{{bbl} \times {\frac{5.6146\mspace{14mu} {ft}^{3}}{bbl} \div 1.2026}\frac{{ft}^{3}}{sack}}} \\{= {\sim {779\mspace{14mu} {sacks}}}}\end{matrix}$

The amount of cement Class G and D035 needed for the operation can becalculated as follows:

${{Material}\mspace{14mu} {Weight}},{\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} = {\left( {{{Absolute}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}\mspace{20mu} \% \; \times {Density}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{of}\mspace{14mu} {Material}\frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}} \times {Absolute}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}},\frac{gal}{sack}} \right) + {7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}}}$$\begin{matrix}{{{Class}\mspace{14mu} G\mspace{14mu} {Weight}},{\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} = {\left( {0.65 \times 199.76\frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}} \times 3.414\frac{gal}{sack}} \right) + {7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}}}} \\{= {59.26\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{D\; 035\mspace{14mu} {Weight}},{\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} = {\left( {0.35 \times 154.82\frac{{lb}\; m}{{ft}^{3}} \times 3.414\frac{gal}{sack}} \right) + {7.48\frac{gal}{{ft}^{3}}}}}} \\{= {24.73\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack}}}\end{matrix}$ $\mspace{20mu} \begin{matrix}{{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Class}\mspace{14mu} G}\;,\; {{{lb}\; m} = {\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} \times {TotalSacks}}}} \\{= {59.26\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} \times 779\mspace{14mu} {sacks}}} \\{= {46163.5\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$ $\mspace{20mu} \begin{matrix}{{{Total}\mspace{14mu} D\; 035}\;,\; {{{lb}\; m} = {\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} \times {TotalSacks}}}} \\{= {24.73\frac{{lb}\; m}{sack} \times 779\mspace{14mu} {sacks}}} \\{= {19264.7\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$

FIG. 13 illustrates Cement Slurry Calculations showing the property, ofblended cement. Note that, by clicking on the “Custom Cement &Additives” tab at the bottom of the left page in FIG. 13, one cangenerate and store custom additives in cement database.

FIG. 14 illustrates that a Bulk Plant loading guide is generated basedon ‘user input data’ 24 of FIG. 1. This is the default example providedin the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 and differs from the example provided in thetext, since additive calculations are more intense and lengthy.

In FIG. 15, a second page (‘Casing Lift Calculations’) associated with afifth tab 26 e (labeled ‘Cementing’) in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 isillustrated. In FIG. 15, casing lift calculations will be discussed.

In FIG. 15, an example of ‘Casing Lift Calculations’ 208 is illustrated.Among the other calculators that are provided in the cementing sectionof the ‘i-Handbook’ 26, the ‘casing lift calculator’ 208 has specialsignificance because it is important for the user to know, during cementpumping operations: (1) whether the pumping pressure at the surfacecould cause the casing to unseat, and (2) the value of the criticalsurface pressure for this operation. The ‘casing lift calculator’ 208 isbased on a knowledge of the casing diameter and its weight, which areobtained from the database 22 c, and other ‘input data’24 pertaining tothe depth of the casing, etc, which are provided as ‘input data’ via thedisplay screen shown in FIG. 15.

In FIG. 15, example calculations for the problem presented on thedisplay screen of FIG. 15 are set forth below, as follows: Casing OD of13.375 inch, 61 lbm/ft, ID 12.515 inch, is set at 3500 feet measureddepth in a vertical well Displacing fluid density is 12.5 lbm/galUS andother details are as provided in the figure. First, we calculate theweight of the casing in air and fluid, as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{W_{air},{{{lb}\; m} = {{Length}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {the}\mspace{14mu} {Casing}}},{{ft} \times {Weight}\mspace{14mu} {Gradient}\frac{{lb}\; m}{ft}}} \\{= {3500\mspace{14mu} {ft} \times 61\frac{{lb}\; m}{ft}}} \\{= {213500\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{W_{fluid},{{{lb}\; m} = {0.052 \times {Length}}},{{ft} \times {Area}},{{in}^{2} \times {Fluid}\mspace{20mu} {{Densi}{ty}}\frac{{lb}\; m}{{gal}{US}}}} \\{= {0.052 \times 3500 \times 123.01 \times 12.5}} \\{= {279854.95\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Total}\mspace{14mu} {Downward}\mspace{14mu} {Force}},{{{lb}\; m} = W_{air}},{{{lb}\; m}\; + W_{fluid}},{{lb}\; m}} \\{= {493354.9\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m}}\end{matrix}$

Hydrostatic Pressure is calculated for each section length of the fluidand the results are totaled. As seen in FIG. 15, the sum of all of theindividual hydrostatic pressures is 2529.3 lbm/in2. This value is usedto compute well hydrostatic force as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{Well}\mspace{14mu} {Hydrostatic}\mspace{14mu} {force}},{{{lb}\; f} = {Hydrostatics}},{\frac{{lb}\; f}{{in}^{2}} \times {Area}},{in}^{2}} \\{= {2529.3\frac{{lb}\; f}{{in}^{2}} \times 140.5\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}}} \\{= {355364.8\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; f}}\end{matrix}$

Static lifting force shows the value of the resultant force under staticconditions. If it is negative, the casing will not be lifted byhydrostatics alone and vice versa.

Lifting Force, lbf=Well Hydrostatic force, lbf−Total Downward force,lbf=355364.8−493354.9=−137990.18 lbf

The difference between hydrostatic pressures is now computed and thisfigure is used to determine added lifting forces. If negative, casingwill not be lifted, else it will be lifted while pumping.

${Additional}\mspace{14mu} \begin{matrix}{{force},{{{lb}\; f} = {\left( {2529.3\text{-}2275} \right)\frac{{lb}\; f}{{in}^{2}} \times 123.01\mspace{14mu} {in}^{2}}}} \\{= {31279.8\mspace{20mu} {lb}\; f}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Final}\mspace{14mu} {Force}},{{{lb}\; f} = {{{Lifting}\mspace{14mu} {Force}} + {{Additional}\mspace{14mu} {Force}}}}} \\{= {{- 137990.18} + 31279.8}} \\{= {{- 106710.39}\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; f}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Critical}\mspace{14mu} {Surface}\mspace{14mu} {Pressure}},{\frac{{lb}\; f}{{in}^{2}} = {- \left\lbrack \frac{{{Static}\mspace{14mu} {Lifting}\mspace{14mu} {force}},{{lb}\; f}}{{Area},{in}^{2}} \right\rbrack}}} \\{= {- \left\lbrack \frac{{- 137990.8}\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; f}{123.01} \right\rbrack}} \\{= {1121.8\frac{{lb}\; f}{{in}^{2}}}}\end{matrix}$

In FIG. 15, Casing Lift calculations are shown in FIG. 15. User inputsare entered on the left page of the calculator 208 of FIG. 15, and theanswers are displayed on the right page of the calculator 208 of FIG.15.

In FIG. 16, a first page (‘HCL dilution calculator and Table’)associated with a sixth tab 26 f (labeled ‘Acid Oil Brine’) in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 16, calculationsshowing density and dilution for Hydrochloric acid will be discussed.

This is the last section of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 and it includes aciddilution charts, oil gravity calculations, and Brine Density and Saltrequirement calculators. A few of the most useful and frequently usedcalculators are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 16, 17, and 18of the drawings.

In FIG. 16, an ‘Acid density and dilution calculator and table’ 210 isillustrated. The left page of FIG. 16 responds to ‘input data’ (24 inFIG. 1) provided by a user to compute Hydrochloric acid density and atable is generated using the standard “Table Control” module developedfor the application. The scroll bar allows the user to scroll down andsee the values associated with various concentrations of HCL. Thedetails of the calculations are set forth below, as follows:

Density: HCL concentration is used in calculating specific gravity bythe following algorithm:

${{Specific}\mspace{14mu} {Gravity}} = {0.9998 + \frac{{HCl}\mspace{14mu} {Conc}^{1.0070879}}{204.22}}$For  28%  HCl${{Specific}\mspace{14mu} {Gravity}} = {{0.9998 + \frac{28^{1.0070879}}{204.22}} = 1.14018}$

Degrees Baumme is computed as follows:

${{Degrees}\mspace{14mu} {Baumme}} = {{145 - \frac{145}{{HCl}\mspace{11mu} {S.G.}}} = {{145 - \frac{145}{1.14018}} = 17.827}}$For  28%  HCl${{Specific}\mspace{14mu} {Gravity}} = {{0.9998 + \frac{28^{1.0070879}}{204.22}} = 1.14018}$

Density of Acid is computed as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{Density} = \frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}} \\{= {{Specific}\mspace{20mu} {gravity} \times 8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {1.14018 \times 8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {9.49773\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}}\end{matrix}$

Dilution: Dilution calculation is based on the amount of acid that needsto be diluted to a final concentration from an initial givenconcentration. In this example, a final volume of 500 gals of 15% HCLmust be diluted from 36% HCL. The Calculator 210 calculates the initialvolume of 36% HCL and the water needed to dilute the HCL. First, thedensities based on initial and final concentrations of HCL are computedusing the method shown above. These densities are 9.83453 and 8.95203lbm/galUS respectively. Calculations are as shown below, as follows:

For  36%  HCl${{Specific}\mspace{14mu} {Gravity}} = {{0.9998 + \frac{36^{1.0070879}}{204.22}} = 1.18062}$$\begin{matrix}{{Density} = \frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}} \\{= {{Specific}\mspace{20mu} {gravity} \times 8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {1.18062 \times 8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {9.83453\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}}\end{matrix}$ For  15%  HCl${{Specific}\mspace{14mu} {Gravity}} = {{0.9998 + \frac{15^{1.0070879}}{204.22}} = 1.07467}$$\begin{matrix}{{Density} = \frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}} \\{= {{Specific}\mspace{20mu} {gravity} \times 8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {1.07467 \times 8.33\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}} \\{= {8.95203\frac{{lb}\; m}{galUS}}}\end{matrix}$

Next, the following equations are used to determine the volumes:

${Vol}_{strong},{{gal} = \frac{\begin{matrix}{{{Desired}\mspace{14mu} {{Conc}.\mspace{14mu} \%} \times {Desired}\mspace{14mu} {Final}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}},} \\{{gal} \times {Final}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{HCl}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{Density}\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUS}}\end{matrix}}{{Intial}\mspace{14mu} {{Conc}.\mspace{14mu} \%}\mspace{20mu} {Initial}\mspace{14mu} {HCl}\mspace{14mu} {Density}\mspace{14mu} {Ib}\; m\text{/}{galUS}}}$$\begin{matrix}{{Vol}_{strong},{{gal} = \frac{0.15 \times 500\mspace{14mu} {gal} \times 8.95203\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUS}}{0.36 \times 9.83453\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\text{/}{galUS}}}} \\{= {189.639\mspace{14mu} {gal}\; {US}}}\end{matrix}$ $\begin{matrix}{{{Water}\mspace{14mu} {Needed}\mspace{14mu} {for}\mspace{14mu} {Dilution}} = {\left( {{{Desired}\mspace{14mu} {Final}\mspace{14mu} {Volume}} - {Vol}_{strong}} \right){gal}}} \\{= {\left( {500 - 189.639} \right){gal}}} \\{= {310.361\mspace{14mu} {gals}}}\end{matrix}$

The calculator 210 of FIG. 16 also draws a table based on the inputs ofmaximum and minimum HCL concentrations for different values of finalvolumes. The table is developed using the typical table control, whichcopy to cell based software and scrolling of data vertically andhorizontally to view the desired data

FIG. 16 illustrates calculations showing density and dilution forHydrochloric acid. The red box on left page of the calculator 210indicates the row where specific gravity, degrees Baumme, density, andhydrostatic gradient for 28% HCL is being displayed. The scroll bar hadto be moved down to get to this position.

Referring to FIG. 17, a second page (‘Oil Gravity & API Calculator’)associated with a sixth tab 26 f (labeled ‘Acid Oil Brine’) in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 17, computing APIgravity from the specific gravity of oil, and vice versa, will bediscussed.

In FIG. 17, an Oil Gravity and API calculator 212 is illustrated. TheAPI Oil Gravity Calculator 212 of FIG. 17 shows a human interfaceadapted for calculating API (American Institute of Petroleum) oilgravity on the basis of specific gravity of oil, and vice versa, basedon the equations displayed. Further, the table on right hand page isgenerated for quick reference, for example, for copying it to any cellbased software. In FIG. 17, an example calculation is shown in FIG. 17,as follows: for 0.91 specific gravity oil (i.e., 0.91 is the value for‘fspecific gravity’ in FIG. 17) results in 24 dAPI (degree API) oil(i.e., 24 is the value for ‘API Gravity’). Calculations are not shownsince the formula shown on the left page in FIG. 17 is self explanatory.

FIG. 17 illustrates the computation of ‘API gravity’ from the ‘Specificgravity’ of oil and vice versa. The table on the right page in FIG. 17is generated by the two equations shown on the left page of FIG. 17 forvarious values of API Gravity.

Referring to FIG. 18, a third page (‘Salt Requirement Calculator’)associated with a sixth tab 26 f (labeled ‘Acid Oil Brine’) in the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 18, a SaltInterpolation Table will be discussed.

In FIG. 18, a Salt Requirement Calculator 214 is illustrated. The‘i-Handbook’ 26 provides tables that can be used to construct brinesolutions by adding different amounts of salts to obtain differentconcentrations or weights of solutions. However, in some cases, the usermay want to obtain salt requirements for a case which is not set forthin the table of FIG. 18 but can be obtained by interpolating between twovalues in the table of FIG. 18. For such cases; a salt interpolatingcalculator termed as the ‘Salt Requirement Calculator’ 214 of FIG. 18 isgenerated. This calculator 214 uses the data in the table tointerpolate, and provide answers for user's inputs, provided via the‘input data’ block 24 in FIG. 1. An example is set forth below, asfollows:

Example: Compute the amount of Calcium Chloride (Peladow) required forconstructing a 100 bbls solution of 10.67 lbm/galUS density at 60 deg F.To obtain the results, we interpolate, between the values available for10.6 and 10.8 lbm/galUS and obtain the results. A ‘CaCl2’ page issuperimposed on the left page in FIG. 18 for ease of viewing.

${{Salt}\mspace{14mu} {Required}} = {{\frac{{{Salt}\mspace{14mu} {Required}_{10.8{S.G.}}} - {{Salt}\mspace{14mu} {Required}_{10.6{S.G}}}}{\left( {10.8 - 10.6} \right)} \times \left( {10.67 - 10.6} \right)} + {{Salt}\mspace{14mu} {Required}_{10.6{S.G}}}}$$\mspace{20mu} {{\begin{matrix}{{{Salt}\mspace{14mu} {Required}} = {{\frac{142 - 130}{\left( {10.8 - 10.6} \right)} \times \left( {10.67 - 10.6} \right)} + 130}} \\{= {{\frac{12}{0.2} \times (0.07)} + 130}} \\{= {134.2\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m{\; \;}{per}\mspace{14mu} {bbl}}}\end{matrix}\mspace{20mu}\therefore{{For}\mspace{14mu} 100\mspace{14mu} {bbl}\mspace{14mu} {Solution}}} = {{100 \times 134.2} = {13420\mspace{14mu} {lb}\; m\mspace{14mu} {CaCl}_{2}}}}$

Other interpolations are carried out in the same fashion, and theresults from those other interpolations are displayed in the grayed-outboxes on the right page of FIG. 18.

FIG. 18 illustrates how the ‘Salt interpolating table’ 214 usesinterpolating techniques for computing results for values that are notpresent in the physical properties tables for various salts. Note thatthe Calcium Chloride page is superimposed on the left page for thisexample.

Referring to FIG. 19, a ‘wellbore diagram feature’ 216 of the‘i-Handbook’ 26 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In FIG. 19, the ‘well borediagram feature’ 216 allows the user to draw pictures of a wellbore thatrepresent a configuration of a well and to compute volumes in tubular orannular spaces of the wellbore.

Unlike any conventional handbook, the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 of the inventioncan also be used to prepare wellbore construction diagrams followingdifferent scenarios as shown below. At each step, the selected hardwareis illustrated in a diagram. According to the invention, the wellboreconstruction may start with an open hole or with any casing type alreadyin place. Eventually, the construction may start with a tubing orhanger, but a warning message is displayed since tubing and liners aretypically inside casing. To be consistent, the wellbore diagram requiresthat all the hardware be selected in it is anchored somewhere or theother. No piece of hardware can hang free. The moment any piece ofhardware is selected, the value of X, meaning minimum cement thicknessrequired, is computed corresponding to the tubular based on followingcorrelation

X=0.1045(Tubular OD)³−0.9732(Tubular OD)²+5.3004(Tubular OD)+0.6776

In FIG. 19, a post-commercialization survey revealed that this is themost frequently used feature of ‘i-Handbook’ 26 mainly because of itsease of use and ability to offer quick error-free results. The ‘wellborediagram feature’ 216 allows the user to draw pictures of a wellbore thatrepresent a configuration of the well and also to compute volumes intubular or annular spaces. This module utilizes the combination oftubular databases, user inputs, and inbuilt rules & algorithms in orderto first allow the construction of diagram and then to compute thevolumes. The ‘well bore manager’ allows the user to make annotations andnotes on the diagram constructed by him/her and arranges multiplediagrams on same virtual note pad. GDI tools are used to help in drawingthe pictures of the wellbore. Some of the features that make the‘wellbore diagram’ an ‘easy to use’ feature and an ‘efficientcalculator’ are mentioned below.

Drag & Drop

Well bore items like casing, tubing, coiled tubing and drill pipes canbe selected from a drop down list of tubular and selected by clicking onthe item; keeping the left mouse key pressed, the item can be broughtover to the “virtual notepad” and dropped on the release of the mouse.If the user executes the sequence correctly and if the selection passesthe rules, then the item “docks” itself on the notepad. Rules areprovided to make the system more intelligent and prevent the user frommaking wrongful choices. For example, the rules prevent attaching ahigher diameter casing inside a lower diameter tubing, or trying tosqueeze in an open hole inside a casing, etc. However, it does allowdocking different tubular beneath one another to account for “tapered”string configuration.

Tubular Database & Well Bore Hardware Buttons

This feature allows a selection between thousands of pipe sizes and alsoallows drawing a few typical well bore items/events, such as floatcollar, bridge plug, packer, perforation, plain-depth reference and openholes. Logic and rules are associated with each of the objects. As anexample, in order for a packer to be “docked”, an annular space isneeded, open holes cannot have perforations, etc. Further, afterdropping any one the tubular or hardware items, a window pops up for theuser to enter his/her inputs. This is the part where ‘user inputs’(block 24 in FIG. 1) are utilized for calculations. Inputs are usuallythe setting depth in most of the cases. In case of hangers, the top ofthe hanger may also be entered. The user is allowed to change the nameof Well bore item.

Well Bore Volume Computations

After “drawing” the well bore diagram on the virtual notepad, the usercan compute the ‘volumes of interested area’ by first clicking thebutton “Start Volume” and then highlighting all the segments of volumesthey are interested in, and lastly ending the volume calculation byclicking on “End Volume” button. This action will sum up the individualvolumes of all the sections and display the volume on the well borediagram.

Denoting Volumes by Colors

After the well bore volumes are computed, the user can click on thebarrel icon, which stands for ‘volume calculations’. This action willopen another window that will list all the various segments of volumesthat were computed by the user. By clicking on the “Define Path Colors”object, the color of that particular fluid type, e.g. Lead, Tail, etc,can be changed. The changed color will now be reflected in the well borediagram. The user can also change the units of measurements from the onegiven to any other in the drop down list.

Item Labels

All the well bore items and tubular have a label attached to them. Thisdisplays the item details and setting depth. These labels can be movedup or down along the well bore diagram and locked in a position that theuser feels is the best suitable. Users can turn the labels off if theydo not wish to see them, by choosing the “Hide” Option.

Automatic Scaling and Zoom Function

The virtual notepad automatically scales the diagram based on the lengthof the tubular attached and also on the basis of relative diameter. Thismay lead to a situation, especially in very deep wells, where the usermay not be in a position to view the area of interest properly. Tocircumvent this problem, the view can be ‘zoomed in’ by dragging the topdatum line to the place of interest or by right clicking on the ‘zoom’button to enter the depths. Clicking on “restore” restores the originalview.

Resize

Well bore diagrams may be resized by using the hot area at the bottomright of the virtual notepad. Resizing can be done in both thehorizontal and the vertical direction.

Copy & Paste

Well bore diagrams may be copied by right clicking on the diagram andchoosing option “Copy” and reproduced by pasting on applications likeExcel, Word or Power Point presentations. This makes it easy when:preparing presentations, preparing job recommendations, or conducting abidding process. The user may elect to “Ungroup” and edit the pastedpicture.

FIG. 19 shows one example of the ‘well bore diagram feature’ 216.

The wellbore construction operates according to the following scenarios.Accordingly, a set of ‘wellbore diagram rules’ are set forth in thefollowing paragraphs.

Wellbore Diagram Rules Scenario 1:

If “Open Hole” is chosen first, without presence of any casing

-   -   the default open hole diameter is 26 inch which corresponds to        largest diameter bit available. Open hole snaps on to the        surface or datum line. As soon as the open hole snaps in, the        user is urged to enter the depth and diameter.    -   In case the depth is not entered by the user, and if you have        defaulted the length of any selected tubular to 1.0 feet, make        sure that the default depth/length of the open hole is 1⅛ foot        or any number marginally greater than unit length designated for        casings.    -   open hole should look like a container with its bottom closed by        a “dashed line”.

Scenario 2: Selection of Casing:

When selecting any casing, select first the OD, then the weight perfoot, then the type—T & C or Extreme Line. The last selection willprovide the tool joint or coupling OD. For the joints whose coupling orTJ OD is missing in the database, Pipe OD will be defaulted as TJ OD.Make the selection knob such that if “T&C” or “Extreme Line” does notexist for any particular type of casing OD and Weight selected, then itshould blank it out. E.g. for 4.5 inch OD, 9.5 #/ft, casing, ExtremeLine is not available. For such a case, the casing type should be“fixed” to T & C since it is the only type available. When First“Casing” is selected in presence of “Open. Hole” then

-   -   The casing can snap on only to the surface or datum line (which        is obvious). Also since the open hole diameter is defaulted to        26 inches and none of the tubular in database is more than 26        inches, the casing will always be “inside” the open hole as far        as diameter is concerned.    -   Once the casing is put in, the open hole starts its intelligent        behavior by        -   i. Adjusting its diameter equal to X plus the outside            diameter of the casing, if and only if, the user has not            entered the diameter of open hole.        -   ii. The “wrong” scenario here is that the user has entered            the diameter of open hole as say, 7 inches and selects a            casing that is say 9⅝. Under this circumstances, as soon as            the cursor is on the “active area” of wellbore sheet, warn            him that casing OD cannot be more than open hole diameter.            Then say, “Accept this casing and adjust the open hole            diameter?—Give the option, Yes, or No. If he/she says yes,            then accept the casing and increase the open hole diameter            based on point (i) and if he/she selects No, then do not            snaph the selected casing but retain the open hole.        -   iii. Since this is the first casing and open hole            combination, the open hole must close the bottom with a            dashed line. As mentioned earlier, the open hole depth            should be marginally more than the depth of the selected            casing. Hence if the user has not entered the depth of the            open hole, but has entered the depth of casing, the open            hole should increase its depth on its own so as to            “encompass” the casing.        -   iv. The “wrong” scenario that can be expected here is the            user has entered the depth of open hole already, say at 2000            ft, and when the casing snaps in, he enters casing's depth            as 2050 ft. At this point, a warning message pops up and the            entered value is not accepted since it is physically            impossible.            Scenario 3: When Second “Open Hole” is Selected in Presence            of Existing “Open Hole” and/or Casing.

If second Open Hole is selected in presence of only an Open Hole beforeit, then, It can snap only at the bottom of previous Open Hole, and itsdiameter by default would be less than 0.25 inch less than the previousone.

-   -   When it snaps to the bottom of previous open hole, the previous        hole will intersect it at right angles and now the new open hole        will be the bottom of new container volume.    -   After the open hole snaps in, prompt for its depth. The bottom        of this hole will be closed by a dashed line. If the user does        not prompt the depth, it should be +⅛ of standard casing default        depth.

If second Open Hole is selected in presence of only a casing. Such acase will be encountered if the user has started to construct the wellbore without dropping a open hole. However, in this case, the open holewill snap on to the bottom of the previously existing casing or engulfthis casing by being outside it

-   -   Case I: When it snaps to the bottom, it assumes a diameter equal        to previous casing drift diameter minus 0.125 inch. The bottom        of this OH will be closed by a dashed line. Also the moment this        OH gets snapped, the previous casing will “develop” shoes,        indicating, you can no longer extend previous casing.    -   Case II: When the selected open hole snaps on to the surface        then, it assumes a diameter equal to at least previous outside        casing diameter plus X, where X has to be computed by Equation        (1). When this hole snaps in to the surface, engulfing the        previous casing, then it closes the bottom by a dashed line,        with its default depth being more than previous casing depth by        ⅛.

If second Open Hole is selected in presence of previous open hole andprevious casing. Under this circumstance the open hole will snap only atthe bottom of the previous casing. It will assume a diameter equal toprevious casing drift diameter minus 0.125 inch. The bottom of this OHwill be closed by a dashed. Also, the moment this OH gets snapped, theprevious casing will “develop” shoes, indicating, you can no longerextend previous casing. When prompted for depth, it should have depthgreater than previous casing shoe depth. If user enters a depth lessthan this, he should be prompted to correct the depth.

Scenario 4: When Second “Casing” is Selected in Presence of FirstSelected “Open Hole” and Existing Casing, but No Open Hole Attached toFirst Casing.

Here the well bore needs to get intelligent. Where the newly selectedcasing can be snapped will now depend on the properties of this and theprevious casing in the well bore. The following rules will apply:

-   -   If the Tool Joint OD of the selected casing is less than the        drift diameter of the previous casing, then following checks        will apply        -   i. Snapping inside previous casing from the surface: First,            based on the OD of the selected casing, compute the value of            X using Equation (1).            -   Case I. If the sum of OD of the newly selected casing                and value X corresponding to this new OD, is less than                or equal to previous casing ID minus 0.25 inch, then                such a casing can be snapped inside previous casing                without a forewarning, starting from surface. As soon as                the casing is attached, indicate the end of previous                casing by drawing a shoe (no casing can now be attached                to previous casing), retain the first/previous open hole                but show it to be intersecting with newly dropped                casing, create a new open hole such that its diameter by                default is ID of previous drift casing minus 0.125, and                prompt for entering a depth of new casing, extend the                open hole to contain the new casing.            -   Case II. If the sum of OD of the newly selected casing                and value X corresponding to this, new OD, is more than                previous casing ID minus 0.25, then issue a warning “May                not get adequate cement thickness behind casing”. Once                the casing is attached, follow the same sequence of                operations as mentioned at the end Case I above.            -   Case III. If above two rules are not satisfied, the                newly selected casing cannot start from surface.        -   ii. Snapping Below Previous Casing: Minimum OD that will be            allowed to snap on to the bottom of existing previous            casing, will be previous casing Drift Diameter—0.125-X, with            a small mention that the string is tapered. If the selected            casing OD is below this, then it will be allowed to snap to            the bottom with a warning “the string is highly tapered. Are            you sure this is a casing or do you need to select a liner?”            If he says “Select Anyway” then allow it to snap else if he            says cancel, then do not snap it. When a casing snaps to            bottom, prompt the user to enter new casing depths. At the            same time extend the depth of the previous open hole to            encompass this new “tapered” string.    -   If the Tool Joint OD of the selected casing is equal to the        drift diameter of the previous casing, then following will apply        -   i. Such a casing can only be snapped on to the bottom of            previous casing if and only if the previous casing depth has            not been finalized by the user and the casing has not            “developed” shoes at its bottom.        -   ii. The moment such a casing snaps on to the bottom of the            previous casing, which is incidentally the same OD size,            then you need to pop a very important suggestion—“You need            to increase the depth of the open hole since it is same            sized casing. Enter new Open hole depth & Enter the casing            depth!!”. Since there is no exception to this rule, even if            user does not enter a new depth and just cancels the            warning, extend the open hole to close off the bottom of the            new same-OD casing selected. For this, add the unit depth of            the casing, to the previous casing depth and increase it by            1⅛ foot (or anything convenient) to close off the bottom.            -   If the Tool Joint OD of the selected casing is greater                that than the drift diameter of the previous casing,                then following will apply        -   i. Snapping at Bottom of previous casing: The moment such a            diameter casing is selected compute the least allowable            diameter (taking cementing into consideration) by            Equation (1) mentioned at the end of the text. Call this            value as let us say X.            -   Case I. If the newly selected casing Tool Joint OD is                less than previous open hole diameter. Before snapping                however, advise the user, “Will need a cross over” and                prompt him to enter the depth. Also if the previous open                hole diameter minus the new selected casing OD is less                than X, just warn the user “For good cementing, may need                a larger hole”. Once the casing snaps below the previous                one, then automatically extend the previous open hole to                the end of this new casing+⅛ and close it with dashed                line which is the convention.            -   Case II. If however, the Tool Joint OD of the newly                selected casing is more than the previous open hole                then, ask the user “Is the casing to be run in an under                reamed hole?”. If he says yes, then prompt him for new                hole diameter to which the hole will have to be                under-reamed. If the user enters a open hole diameter                that is less the selected casing tool joint OD, then                scream “OD needs to be at least TJ OD!!”. If he enters a                diameter greater than TJ OD but less than new casing                OD+X corresponding to new casing, then scream “For good                cement thickness behind casing, value needs to be at                least X inches, however Accept the Value?” If he says                yes, accept it; else prompt him to enter new value. When                the new casing finally snaps on, terminate the previous                open hole to the depth of previous casing, and extend                the new open hole to the depth of newly selected                casing+⅛ and close the bottom with dashed line.        -   ii. Snapping on to the Surface: Such a casing whose, tool            joint diameter is larger than the drift diameter of previous            casing, will be allowed to snap on to the surface based on            following rules            -   Case I. If the outer most piece of hardware is casing                then the drift diameter of the newly selected casing                should be more than the tool joint diameter of the outer                most casing. If the casing is dropped here, then it has                to automatically assume a depth equal to half the depth                of the casing it has engulfed. Prompt to enter the depth                and make sure it does not exceed the depth of casing                after it. Also, make sure it “develops” shoes as soon as                it is dropped.            -   Case II. If the outer most piece of hardware is an open                hole then, the larger casing can be dropped outside the                hole, if its drift diameter is larger than the diameter                of the hole it is trying to engulf. After it snaps on                the surface, the casing will automatically be defaulted                to half the length of the open hole and the open hole                will now snap on to the bottom of this new casing.                Prompt to enter the depth and make sure it does not                exceed the depth of casing after it. Also, make sure it                “develops” shoes as soon as it is dropped.

Scenario 5: Subsequent Selection of Casings or Open Hole.

Any further selection of intermediate or production casing should becarried out using the rules laid down in previous sections. The openhole or casing needs to be checked only for their diameters before theycan be allowed to snap to bottom or surface. Care should be taken thatas soon as the casing snaps on to the datum line, the previous casingmust develop “shoes” indicating that, that particular casing string isfinalized and nothing can snap on it anymore.

Scenario 6: Selection of Liners.

Liners should be selected from Liner database. Liners essentially snapon to the insides of a casing and hang on with liner hanger. Liners willnot hang in annuli or will not start from surface. Tie backs can beextended up to the surface

-   -   Case I: If liner is selected in presence of an “Open Hole”        alone, then a warning has to be issued stating that liner has to        be inside a casing and not allow to snap on surface or bottom of        open hole alone.    -   Case II: If liner is selected in presence of “Tubing” alone,        then a warning has to be issued stating that liner has to be        inside a casing and that not allow to snap on surface or bottom        of tubing alone.    -   Case III: If a liner is selected in presence of existing casing        but without an open hole attached below the casing, then the it        needs to snap at the bottom with a small overlap indicating        liner hanger. However, following rules will apply.        -   (a) If the Tool Joint OD of liner is greater than or equal            to the drift diameter of the casing where it is supposed to            hang, then warn the user “Liner cannot be run through the            casing—select lower diameter” and do not snap it on to the            bottom.        -   (b) If the Tool Joint OD of the liner is less than the drift            diameter of the casing string where it is supposed to hang,            then do the following:            -   i. if the sum of selected liner OD+X is less than or                equal to the OD of the casing inside which the liner                will hang, then, liner can snap on to the bottom of this                casing. As soon as such a liner is dropped, ask for its                top measured depth, bottom measured depth. If the top                measured depth is entered equal to 0, then do not accept                it by warning that if the user means to show tie-back                liner, then he should select plain casing. Prompt him to                enter another top MD value. If he cancels, the warning,                the liner will not snap. If the top measured depth is                entered such that the overlap of liner and the casing                inside which it is hanging is more than 100 ft, then                check with user if he is entering the right value. If he                says OK, accept the liner. Simultaneously, the previous                casing should “develop” shoes and also the open attached                to it will terminate by intersecting with the liner.                Also with the acceptance of new liner, surround the same                with open hole with diameter equal to at least, previous                casing drift diameter. Close this open hole at bottom                with a dashed line.            -   ii. if the sum of selected liner OD+X is more than the                OD of casing inside which the liner will hang, then,                warn the user that the “cement thickness behind the                liner may be too less” and ask if wants to accept the                value of liner. If he/she says yes, then accept the                liner and snap it on inside the casing. After that                follow the other instructions of asking for top and                bottom measured depth as checks and warnings mention in                point (1).    -   Case IV: If a liner is selected in presence of existing casing        and also an open hole attached below the casing; then the it        needs to snap at the bottom with a small overlap indicating        liner. However, following rules will apply.        -   i. If the Tool Joint OD of the selected liner is more than            the drift diameter of the casing where it is going to hang,            then it will not snap and prompt the user to choose another            liner hanger.        -   ii. If the Tool Joint OD of the selected liner is less than            the drift diameter of the casing AND also less than the            diameter of the hole below the casing, then the following            will apply            -   1. if the sum of selected liner OD+X is less than or                equal to the hole diameter inside which the liner will                run, then accept the liner without any warning. After                accepting it, prompt for top measured depth and bottom                measured depth. Carryout checks and warnings similar to                ones mentioned in Case III points (1) and (2).            -   2. if the sum of selected liner OD+X is more than the                hole diameter inside which the liner will run, then,                warn the user that the “cement thickness behind the                liner may be too less” and ask if wants to accept the                value of liner. If he/she says yes, then accept the                liner and snap it on inside the casing. After that                follow the other instructions of asking for top and                bottom measured depth as checks and warnings mention in                point (1).    -   Case V: If the user wishes to select second liner a liner in        presence of existing liner, then it will snap inside the        existing liner, with a the top depth limited to the top depth of        previous liner. In this case, the previously existing liner will        behave like the casing, and the new liner will snap inside it        based on all the rules and scenarios presented in Cases III and        IV.    -   Case VI: If the user wishes to select third liner, it will not        accepted saying that selection of liner is limited to two.

Scenario 7:

Selection of Tubing. When selecting any Tubing, select first the OD,then the weight per foot, then the type—T & C or Extreme Line. The lastselection will provide the tool joint or coupling OD. For the jointswhose coupling or TJ OD is missing in the database, Pipe OD will bedefaulted as TJ OD.

-   -   For tubing to be selected there should be at least a casing or        open hole on the worksheet. User cannot start the well bore with        tubing alone. If they do so bring up a dialog that they need to        select at a casing or open hole. Tubing can run inside a open        hole, casing and inside liners. Tubing can also stab through        packers or may just hang without a packer. However, they will        always be attached to the surface. Following scenarios may exist

-   (a) Case I: If Tubing is selected in presence of only Open Hole,    then tubing will run in the hole if and only if, tool joint OD of    the tubing is less than hole diameter. When it snaps, it will be    attached to the surface or datum line. Need to enter the depth,    which should be less than the hole depth inside which it is placed.

-   (b) Case II: If Tubing is selected in presence of Casing or multiple    casings, it will snap only inside the inside most casing, if and    only if the tool joint of the selected tubing is less than the drift    diameter of the casing inside which it is going to run. The maximum    depth of the newly selected tubing, after it snaps in, should not be    more than the total depth of the casing inside which it snaps.

-   (c) Case III: If the tubing is selected in presence of a liner,    hanging inside a casing then two cases are possible.    -   i. Tubing can run inside the casing and the liner both, in which        case, its tool joint outside diameter should be less than the        drift diameter of the liner at the bottom. Once it snaps in, its        total depth should be less than the bottom-measured depth of the        liner.    -   ii Tubing can run up to the top of the liner hanger, if its tool        joint outside diameter is less than the drift diameter of casing        but it is more than that of liner drift diameter. This situation        is not very practical, yet possible. In this case, the maximum        depth of the tubing should be less than the top measured depth        of the liner.

Scenario 8: Liner or Another Drill Pipe (if the Existing Drill Pipe isAlready Inside a Casing).

The program does not allow the drill pipe to run in the Annulus betweencasings or open hole, though such a practice is known to have carriedout in some specialty circulations, with lower diameter drill pipes inrelatively larger annuli. It is also not allowed a drill pipe to beselected before with only an open hole in the worksheet. Drill Pipeswill usually never snap to the bottom and will always start from thesurface—in case of Liners, we have to allow tandem drill pipe stringSelection of Drill Pipe: Drill Pipe can be selected only in presence ofcasing. When selecting Drill Pipe, Select Drill Pipe OD, Drill PipeWeight, and Drill Pipe Tool Joint OD. The selection of Approximateweight, Pipe Type (eg. E, X. G or S), or Connection type is bypassed toavoid user confusion.

i. When Selecting a Drill Pipe in presence of only a Casing:

-   -   i. Case I: If the selected Drill Pipe Tool Joint OD is less than        the drift diameter of previous casing inside which it is meant        to run, then the drill pipe can snap inside the casing from the        surface without any warning. As soon as it does so, ask for the        depth of the drill pipe.    -   ii. Case II: If the selected Drill Pipe Tool Joint OD is equal        to or more than the drift diameter of the previous casing, then        warn the user to select another pipe and if he does so such that        the new selected pipe has lower TJ OD, then let it snap in.        Else, say, it cannot be run inside the previous casing, since,        the OD is too much.        (d) When Selecting a Drill Pipe in presence of a liner inside        the casing:    -   i. Case I: Snapping inside Liner but may not start from surface:        If the TJ OD of the selected drill pipe is less than the drift        diameter of the liner inside the casing through which it is        going to run, then allow it to snap on inside the casing and        liner both from surface. However, now ask for its        bottom-measured depth.    -   ii. Case II: If the TJ OD of the selected drill pipe is more        than the drift diameter of the liner inside which it is intended        to run, but less than or equal to the drift diameter of the        casing inside which the liner is tied to, then such a drill pipe        will snap inside the casing from surface and terminate at the        liner hanger. When it snaps in, ask for its depth. Entry of        depth is important here. If the user enters the depth as greater        than the depth of the liner hanger top, then you ask him if he        wishes to attach it to the top of the hanger so, as the drill        pipe becomes the running tool for liner cementation. If he says        yes, do so and unit the drill pipe and liner top. If he says no,        then warn him that the depth should be less than the liner        hanger top and ask him to re-enter the depth. If he enters a        depth less than the top of hanger, let the drill pipe hang open        ended from the top.    -   iii. Case III: If the TJ OD of the selected drill pipe is more        than the drift diameter of the casing which has a liner running,        inside it, such a drill pipe cannot run in the casing or liner        both. Prompt the user to reduce the drill pipe TJ OD by        selecting lower drill pipe diameter.    -   iv. Case IV: Tapered String: If the user is faced with a        situation of Case I, where he has entered, the top depth of the        drill pipe inside the liner such that it does not start from the        surface, then the top of such a drill pipe is a hot spot for        another drill pipe. This point will keep blinking and will not        permit volume calculations, unless it is anchored somewhere or        if it is attached to preceding drill pipe. Now if the user, does        want to attach a drill pipe on top of such a hot spot, then        allow only such a drill pipe whose TJ OD is less than the drift        diameter of the casing inside which it is going to run.    -   v. Case V: Tapered String: If the user if faced with a situation        of Case II, where the drill pipe he has selected, hangs from the        surface and remains unconnected to the top of the liner hanger,        then such a drill pipe can be extended by attaching another        drill pipe at its bottom. If the intention is to attach a drill        pipe to the bottom of this string, such that the newly selected        drill pipe goes inside the liner, then the TJ OD of the newly        selected drill pipe should be less than the drift diameter of        the liner inside which it is going to run. When this condition        is met, allow the snapping of drill pipe to the bottom of the        preceding one, and ask for its final depth. If however, the TJ        OD is equal to or more than the liner drift diameter, prompt the        user to select a lower diameter drill pipe and snap it only it        passes the test.        The ‘i-Handbook’ Software 20 of FIG. 1

The ‘i-Handbook’ software 20 was basically designed with 3 basicobjectives in mind: (1) to avoid a typical “windows-application-like”look and retain the “book” format similar to the Field Data Handbook,(2) to present the data in an easy-to-use, lucid manner which would notrequire any additional training, and (3) to cater to the needs of anaudience that can vary from personnel on any oilfield location to designand planning engineers who operate from offices.

The overall structure of ‘i-Handbook’ software 20 may be classified intofour (4) major components that may be either in use simultaneously or inparts depending on the way the user elects to use the application. Thesecomponents are listed below, as follows:

(1) Human Interfaces: These may be used for the purpose of navigation,data entry, calculations, animations, and to obtain other results.(2) Databases: These are huge knowledge bases that are provided in orderto facilitate viewing and computations. Users are allowed to update someof the databases.(3) Calculators: These are meant to help the user in carrying outroutine calculations in the field or in office.(4) File Management: This feature enables the user to save theinformation for a possible re-use or even an exchange for informationwith another user.Each of the above four major components which comprise the ‘i-Handbook’software 20 of FIG. 1 will be discussed in the following paragraphs withreference to FIGS. 20, 21, and 22, as follows:

(1) Human Interface

This was the first step in the development of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26,whereby a prototype was first created with a view to presenting thefield data handbook in a form that resembles the look of a book and hassome of the features of the book. The controls were developed usingMicrosoft Foundation Classes and the codes were written in Visual C++.The following text describes separate features of the ‘Human Interface’:

-   -   Page Control: Data in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 is presented in the        form of a book and thus has virtual pages. ‘Page Control’ is a        module that does the page management and decides on how the data        needs to be presented. Apart from the area in the middle of the        book where the left side of the page is reserved for a drawing        and a binder, the remaining part of the page has hot and usable        areas. Every page is associated with “bent page corners” on the        top right and left, to signify a hot area, which can be clicked        to flip the pages, like a typical book. When the page reaches        the last page of a section, it jumps over to the Table of        Contents page of the next section, if the user continues to        click on the right top page corner to move forward. Right bottom        of book cover has a hot area that can used to “resize” the book.        Once the user does this, the page control, redesigns the book by        re-allocating the contents on the page. For example, when        viewing a table, if the book is stretched and increased in size,        a single page will include more data in order to accomplish this        the page control will reconsider the amount of data being        displayed in a single page by ascertaining the new “size” of the        book. Individual pages in the book can be copied by taking the        cursor to the bottom of the page and right clicking on the        mouse. This action copies the page contents like a metafile to        the system clipboard and can be reproduced by pasting it in any        standard Microsoft application like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.    -   Refer now to FIG. 21. In FIG. 21, various features of the        ‘i-Handbook’ 26 that pertain to the ‘page control’ module is        illustrated.    -   Tabs, Sections & Navigation: Once a “template” page was defined        by the page control, the rest of the data to be presented in the        book was divided into six individual sections and section tabs        were created. The tabs are system navigational tools like page        flipping and take the user to the section, which is clicked. A        memory is associated with the last page that was viewed in a        section. If the user views a page in one section and jumps to        another one for a while before returning to previous section, a        click on the previous tab will reopen the last page in that        section. However, one more click on the same tab will open the        Table of Contents for the section, which lets the user get to        the required part of the book by just clicking on the particular        content of interest. This greatly enhances the speed at which        the user can move between the pages. Pointing the mouse at any        tab and right clicking also creates an array of cascading menus        and makes the navigation even faster.    -   Table Control: This is another useful feature that is provided        under the ‘Human Interface’ which enables efficient and better        viewing of tables and enables cell-based copy and paste. ‘Table        control’ was generated by writing codes to create a virtual        table that includes several cells that may have properties        similar to any cell-based software like Microsoft Excel. This        enables the display of information with a better control and        prevents all such information from being “hard coded”. Some        controls in the cell include: ability to change the decimal        places to show accuracy, ability to center, right/left align the        output, ability to show or hide separator lines, ability to draw        border around the cells, and, more importantly, the ability to        copy individual cell values to another software so that the        output remains editable.    -   Refer to FIG. 22. In FIG. 22, the ‘Table Control’ feature allows        for a proper display of output results and it also allows for an        ability to copy data and paste the data in any cell-based        software such that the value in individual cells remains        editable.

(2) Databases

Databases are an important part of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 because these arenot only displayed by the user but the databases are also used on anumber of occasions to carry out the calculations. Various databases inthe application are briefly described in the section below.

-   -   Tubular Database: The ‘Tubular Database’ includes detailed        information on various tubular, such as casing, tubing, drill        pipe, drill collars and coiled tubing, that are used in the        oilfield industry. Tubular databases are relational to a certain        extent since the basic inputs that describe a pipe are outside        diameter [OD, in], its weight per unit length [w, lbm/ft], wall        thickness [t, in], drift diameter [d, in], and grade. There are        other features that (such as make up loss, pin length, coupling        outside diameter, coupling diameter for special clearance pipes,        etc) that deal with the joints of the pipe. Most of the        mechanical properties can be computed on basis of the basic        information stated above. The relation nature of database        requires intelligent storage of data, which was done very        efficiently in this case. For example, for every unique OD,        there is a unique wt, for which there is a unique t, for which        there are unique grades. Other values (such as internal        diameter, yield strength, collapse resistance, pipe-body yield        strength, joint yield strengths, etc) can be computed using        equations. Further, throughout the Handbook 26, the tubular data        is used in different ways—sometimes all of it is used and, on        other occasions, only a part of it is used. For example, in the        Coiled Tubing and Pipe Data section, it is necessary to show all        types of pipes, whereas, in the volume section, we drill down        only to internal diameter since grades have no, relation to pipe        capacity or displacement. To be able to carry out these        operations efficiently, without ever omitting the data, the        information was parsed in carefully and relationships between        various parameters were fully defined. Such relational databases        were created for all the tubular types that are described above.    -   Material Databases: Two types of material databases, used        extensively used in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26, are: a cement and        cement additives database, and a database for proppant used in        fracturing operations. The database on cementing materials holds        key information, such as their physical properties, whereas the        proppant database holds values for physical properties and        pricing codes as well. The details on how these databases are        used in the application can be found in the following        specification with reference to FIGS. 10-15. An additional        feature in cement database allows the user to append, edit or        delete new entries in the database. This is due to the fact that        new additives may be continuously launched in the market and the        user may be required to update the database. As for the proppant        database, provision is provided in various calculators to over        ride the physical properties of the materials; this will change        the calculation results and new values pertaining to changed        inputs can be thus be obtained.

(3) Calculators

The ‘i-Handbook’ 26 features over 25 calculators, the details of whichhave already been discussed above with reference to FIGS. 2-19.Calculators have a well defined user interface that provides activecells for input, including the ability to change unit systems, and theoutputs are distinctly displayed on a separate page in most some cases.In some cases, the output is in the form of results computed for asingle point as well as for a whole range of inputs, and such an outputis usually arranged in a tabular form. A table can be copied andreproduced elsewhere, whereas, any page of the application can be copiedas a metafile. A few of the calculators also provide visualenhancements, such as tank level indication in a tank, stroke counterfor pumps, gate percentage position on gates, annulus volume, well borediagram, etc. With the exception of a few cases, most of the calculatorsdexterously combine all the three aspects including: an efficientlyinteractive and intuitive human interface, an extensive database, and aset of rules and equations and algorithms needed to compute the answers.Presenting the information in an easy-to-use lucid manner efficientlycompletes the loop; the “Copy Page” option permits the user to simplyextract the output on paper if so desired.

(4) File Management

This feature is provided to further increase the usefulness of theapplication. Briefly stated, features such as ‘new file’ (restoresdefault data), ‘open’ (opens any previously saved file), ‘save file’(saves existing data in a file), and ‘units management’ (choose metric,oilfield or custom units) help to improve the ability of the applicationto address larger needs of a typical user that find such featuresessential for any software that deals with engineering calculations.

Referring to FIG. 20, a block diagram illustrating the construction ofthe ‘i-Handbook’ software 20 of FIG. 1 is illustrated. In view of theabove description of the ‘i-Handbook’ software 20, it is clear that the‘i-Handbook’ software 20 includes: a human interface 22 a, calculators22 b, and a database 22 c. The human interface 22 a portion of the‘i-Handbook software’ 20 determines the appearance of the ‘i-Handbook’26, and, therefore, the human interface 22 a in FIG. 20 includes a PageControl 22 a 1. The Page Control 22 a 1 includes input cells 22 a 2 andan output cells 22 a 3, where the output cells 22 a 3 can be singlepoint, a tabular format, or animation. The database 22 c portion of the‘i-Handbook’ software 20 includes a tubular database 22 c 1 and amaterials database 22 c 2. The materials database 22 c 2 includes‘cementing’ and ‘sand’. The ‘cementing’ portion of the materialsdatabase 22 c 2 stores additive physical properties, such as specificgravity, density, and absolute volume which are used for thecalculations, performed by the calculators 22 b. The ‘sand’ portion ofthe materials database 22 c 2 stores the types of sand, such as resincoated sand, ceramic sand, and resin coated ceramic sand. The‘properties’ of such sand include specific gravity, bulk density, andabsolute volume. The tubular database 22 c 1 stores data pertaining totubing or casing that are placed in the wellbore. As a result, thetubular database 22 c 1 includes and stores: casing, tubing, drill pipe,and coiled tubing. The properties of the tubular database 22 c 1 include‘physical properties’ which are ‘hard coded’, such as outside diameter,weight in pounds per foot, wall thickness, inner diameter (I.D.) ininches, grade (J, K, L, N, Q, P), yield strength, burst, collapse, andjoint strength. These ‘physical properties’ are calculated based on APIAlgorithms, and physical dimensions. The calculators 22 b portion of the‘i-Handbook’ software 20 includes and stores ‘equations’ and ‘user inputdata’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION General Description of i-Handbook

Referring to FIG. 23, the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 was, designed to resemble thering binder of the FIELD DATA HANDBOOK (TSL-1008). FIG. 23 shows the‘i-Handbook’ 26 application as it appears on a system desktop. Bydesign, the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 does not have the classical Windowsapplication look. There is no application title bar, menu bar, tool bar,status bar, or main window border. In FIG. 23, element numeral (a), themain window border is shown having rounded corners and a 3-D effect tosimulate the thickness of the binders cover. The blue border around the‘i-Handbook’ 26 is the background color of the desktop and not part ofthe application. Element numeral (b) shows the ring binder clamps.Element numeral (c) points to a raised page corner indicating there aremore pages. Element numeral (d) is a ring binder divider tab showing oneof six available sections. Shadows under the ring binder clamps, pagesand divider tabs give the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 a 3-D appearance. Two creaseson either side of the binder spine give the appearance that the bindercan be closed.

In FIG. 23, all of these subtleties were added to give the user theimpression that they are working with a ring binder and not the typicalWindow application. This also helps to use the application since mostusers have a conceptual model of how the ring binder works in theirhead. For example, clicking on a divider tab takes the user to thatsection. Also, clicking on the raised page corner turns to the next orprevious page.

Functionality Built on Top of the Basic Ring Binder Model.

Referring to FIG. 24, since ‘i-Handbook’ 26 is a computer application,it is possible to add more functionality than exists in the real FieldData Handbook. In FIG. 24, the user selected the Fracturing tab, elementnumeral (a), which opened the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 to the table of contentspage of the section. The first two pages of each section contain a tableof contents of sub-sections. Element numeral (b) points to a table ofcontents entry that is highlighted when passed over by the mouse. If theuser selects this item, the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 jumps to the sub-section“Gate Percentage Calculator for PODs”.

In FIG. 24, additional functionality is made available to the userthrough the buttons noted by element numeral (c). ‘New’, ‘Open’, and‘Save’ allow the user to manage any information that they may haveentered. This information is saved and recalled from a file. ‘Wellbore’brings up a “wellbore sketch pad” that allows, the user to draw variouswellbore configurations. The ‘Options’ button allows the user customizecertain aspects of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26. The ‘?’ and ‘X’ shown by elementnumeral (d) take the user to the ‘i-Handbook’ ‘Help’ sub-section andcloses ‘i-Handbook’ 26. Note, closing merely takes the application offof the desktop. It does not Exit the application. To open the‘i-Handbook’ 26 again, the user double clicks on the icon in the systemtray. To officially Exit the application, the user right clicks on theicon in the system tray and selects ‘Exit’ from the pop-up menu. Elementnumeral (e) highlights an annotation that varies depending on the typeof page the user is viewing.

Organization

Referring to FIG. 25, the only, portions of the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 thatupdate during use are those annotated in FIG. 25. The remainder onlygrow and shrink as the application is resized. Element numeral (a)points to the Left and Right Bar Tab Manager. Element numeral (b) notesthe Left and Right Page Content. These items are at the core of the‘i-Handbook’ 26 organization. One provides the main navigation and theother is the primary view for the ‘i-Handbook’ 26 content.

In FIG. 25, the Bar Tab Manager drives the activation of sections as theuser selects a divider tab. As shown in FIG. 25, Section ‘A’ is thecurrently active section. All in-active section divider tabs are drawnin the Right Bar Tab Manager. If section ‘D’ divider tab where selected,then tabs ‘B’-‘D’ would move to the Left Bar Tab Manager. The hashedareas, denoted as Left and Right Page Content, are updated as the usermoves through the information in the ‘i-Handbook’ 26. These areas areredrawn as needed to reflect the current pages of the currentsub-section in the current section. Unlike the real book, the number ofpossible pages are infinite. The number of pages can also vary dependinghow large the user sizes the ‘i-Handbook’ 26. Longer pages display moreinformation requiring fewer pages. Therefore, pages numbers have no realbearing in the ‘i-handbook’ 26 since the number of pages is a functionof the application's overall size.

Referring to FIG. 26, this Figure illustrates the layers of managementwithin the ‘i-Handbook’ 26. The book contains Sections that in turncontain any number of sub-sections. Sub-sections contain page pairs.Each left page has a corresponding right, page. FIG. 26 indicates thatSection A is active and opened to Sub-Section A.2. The current pagesbeing displayed in the Left and Right Page Contents are the first pagepair. If the user selects the turn page on the upper right page, thenext page pair would be displayed in the Left and Right Page Contentareas.

Referring to FIG. 27, this figure illustrates the flow through theapplication when a give section divider tab is selected. Thiscorresponds directly to the layers presented in FIG. 26. However, thisdiagram shows the three basic sub-section types, (1) Table of Content(this was shown in FIG. 24), (2) Database View, and (3) Hard codedinformation.

A Functional Specification of the ‘i-Handbook’ Software 20

The structure and function of the ‘i-Handbook’ software 20 of FIG. 1 isfully discussed in the following ‘functional specification’ which is setforth in the following paragraphs.

Requirements

Audience: The audience will be employees and clients involved in fieldoperations.

Use and Platform

3.3.1 The handbook will be user friendly. Although user friendliness issubjective and not easily verifiable, some measurement will beperformed. The method used to assess user friendliness will be definedduring development. It may involve requiring key users and testers toprovide feedback in form of a questionnaire.

3.3.2 The application can be launched independently using an iconlocated at the bottom of user's laptop screen.

3.3.3 The application will run on PC desktops and laptops, with windows98, NT and 2000. Target platform is the typical field engineer Opspacklatitude in the current configuration at application commercialization.

3.3.4 MS Office 2000 will be supported. Supporting MS office 97 andearlier versions is not required.

3.3.5 Running the application on pocket PC IPaq H3600 from Compaq hasbeen considered. It is not a requirement for the first version of theapplication. However, future installation on Ipaq running windows CEwill be taken into account during feasibility and development whentechnical decisions are being made.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A method of constructing a wellbore diagram,comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a handbook on a computer displayscreen; and (b) drawing said wellbore diagram on said handbook beingdisplayed on said computer display screen, said wellbore diagram beingconstructed in response to the drawing step (b).
 19. The method ofconstructing a wellbore diagram of claim 18, wherein the drawing step(b) further comprises the steps of: (b1) locating a page in saidhandbook and clicking on a particular icon located on said page of saidhandbook being displayed on said computer display screen in response tothe displaying step (a); (b2) displaying a notepad on said computerdisplay screen in response to the clicking step (b1); and (b3) drawingsaid wellbore diagram on said notepad being displayed on said computerdisplay screen, said wellbore diagram being constructed on said computerdisplay screen following the drawing step (b3). 20-36. (canceled)
 37. Aprogram storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying aprogram of instructions executable by the machine to perform methodsteps for constructing a wellbore diagram, said method steps comprising:(a) displaying a handbook on a view screen of said machine; and (b) inresponse to one or more input instructions, displaying said wellborediagram on said handbook that is being displayed on said view screen ofsaid machine, said wellbore diagram being constructed in response to thedisplaying step (b).
 38. The program storage device of claim 37, whereinthe displaying step (b) further comprises: (b1) in response to a firstinput instruction, displaying a page in said handbook being displayed onsaid view screen in response to the displaying step (a); (b2) inresponse to a second input instruction, displaying a notepad on saidpage in said handbook that is being displayed on said view screen ofsaid machine; and (b3) in response to a third input instruction,displaying said wellbore diagram on said notepad being displayed on saidview screen of said machine, said wellbore diagram being constructed onsaid view screen in response to the displaying step (b3). 39-55.(canceled)
 56. A system adapted for constructing a wellbore diagram,comprising: apparatus adapted for displaying a handbook on a computerdisplay screen; and apparatus adapted for drawing and constructing saidwellbore diagram on said handbook being displayed on said computerdisplay screen.
 57. The system of claim 56, wherein said apparatusadapted for drawing said wellbore diagram on said handbook beingdisplayed on said computer display screen comprises: apparatus adaptedfor displaying a page in said handbook on said computer display screen;apparatus adapted for displaying a notepad over said page in saidhandbook being displayed on said computer display screen; and apparatusadapted for drawing and constructing said wellbore diagram on saidnotepad which is being displayed on said computer display screen.